Hernan Constantino, born and raised in the Philippines, was inspired to take violin lessons because of his father’s love of the instrument. He began his studies when he was eight years old under the tutelage of the late Professor Luis Valencia. At age 11 he became a scholar of the Music Promotion Foundation of the Philippines and at age 15, having recently joined the newly formed Cultural Center of the Philippines Philharmonic Orchestra, now known as the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, he won first prize in the National Young Artists Competition. He was invited to perform for the President and Mrs. Marcos, and received invitations to perform in various television and radio shows between the ages of 15 and 19. At nineteen, he left the Philippines for the United States, upon receiving a full scholarship to the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts.
He continued his violin studies under Dorothy DeLay, Hyo Kang and William DePasquale; chamber music under Joseph DePasquale and William DePasquale; and conducting under Joseph Primavera. He has worked with famous conductors such as Ricardo Muti, Eugene Ormandy, and Klaus Tensthdeth. In the summers of 1978 and 1979, he played at the Aspen Music Festival as 1st violinist with the Festival Orchestra. He held the position of principal second violin for seven seasons and as a substitute concertmaster for the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra. Mr. Constantino also held the position of concertmaster at the Trump Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. He was the violin and chamber music instructor at the New Jersey School of Music and a substitute violin teacher at Cherry Hill High School in New Jersey.
After moving to Portland Oregon in 1986, he became a founding member of the “New Oregon String Quartet,” presenting contemporary and 20th century music. He became a first violinist in the Portland Opera Orchestra, first violinist and soloist with the West Coast Chamber Orchestra, and a substitute violinist with the Oregon Symphony. In 1988, he held the position of Interim Music Director of Oregon State University-Corvallis Symphony in Corvallis Oregon as well as a violin professor of the Oregon State University. He was also a founding member of the “Metolious” String Quartet, the quartet in residence at Oregon State University.
In 1990, Mr. Constantino won a position with the San Diego Symphony and in 1991 was assigned Acting Associate Concertmaster. He is also a member of the San Diego Opera Orchestra, and also plays with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra. He is currently the Concertmaster of the Oregon Coast Music Festival in Coos Bay, Oregon, in which he was featured as soloist for the Brahms Double Concerto in the summer of 1999. For the 2009 Oregon Coast Music Festival, Mr. Constantino was invited to be the festivals guest conductor. He appeared this summer with the Interlochen music camp and was invited to be a full staff member for the 2009 music camp.
Mr. Constantino is an active teacher and currently a Violin Faculty instructor at San Diego State University as well as having a private studio. He has also appeared as guest conductor of The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in the Philippines.
Admission to Mr. Constantino Music Studio is by audition only. Currently having a full teaching schedule, he still finds time to audition new students to be placed in the waiting list or to advice and recommend violin teachers in the area.
Mr. Constantino is a member of the Music Teachers Association of California and the American String Teachers Association.
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