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Alumni Spotlight: Javier Camacho

Name: Javier Camacho

Javier Camacho

Graduation Year: 2017

Degree(s) Received: Doctor of Musical Arts (Performance)

Why did you choose to attend WVU?

I chose to attend WVU because I was really interested in studying piano with Dr. Peter Amstutz. His vast knowledge and experience both as pianist and pedagogue made such a great impact on my development as a musician. He is the main reason why I attended WVU. Also, the College of Creative Arts offered me an assistantship that allowed me to work as the pianist of the choral program.

What is your profession now?

I work as a staff pianist and piano professor in both undergraduate and graduate programs at National University of Colombia and at Central University in Bogotá, Colombia.

What is your most interesting current/upcoming project?

My most interesting current project is the "Rachmaninoff Piano Duo", with my colleague and lfelong friend Raúl Mesa. Our ensemble is interested in the piano literature written for two pianos and for piano four hands. We performed our debut recital at WVU in 2015, and have played recitals in the United States and Colombia since then. This year we won the "Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santo Domingo Piano Duet Competition" and were invited to perform some great works by Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms at the "Fourth International Classical Music Festival of Bogotá", one of the most prestigious music festivals in South America. We are currently working on our first recording project.

How do you feel WVU and the College of Creative Arts prepared you for your career?

Javier Camacho

I had amazing teachers and colleagues at WVU. I learned a lot from all of them, especially in the areas of Performance, Music Theory, and Music History. WVU and the College of Creative Arts gave me the opportunity to collaborate and share the stage with with wonderful musicians. As the pianist of the WVU choirs, for example, I performed throughout the United States and traveled to Europe twice playing concerts in cities like Venice, Florence, Rome, Cork, and Dublin. That was an invaluable experience for my career as a pianist.