Edgar Gabriel

Edgar Gabriel is in demand for his ability to play many styles on the violin. He has performed with such diverse groups as Mannheim Steamroller, Chicago Opera Theater and The Big Apple Circus. Gabriel has worked in many theaters including Steppenwolf, where in 1994 he led an on-stage string quartet in “A Clockwork Orange.”

Recently, his versatility has won him positions with the world renowned Cirque du Soleil. In 2002 Gabriel worked in Las Vegas with the company’s Mystère show, and toured with Dralion in 2003. He can be heard playing Irish fiddle and mandolin with The Chicago Rovers and recently become the electric violinist with the reformed 1960-70s rock, funk, fusion band, The Flock.

Gabriel is the other violinist in Rachel Barton’s string trio Stringendo, along with Brandon Vamos on cello. Their Storming the Citadel CD was recorded on Cacophony Records. In 1998, he joined virtuoso pianist Greg Lawrence for the release of The Gabriel-Lawrence Inventions CD through Density Records.

As a founding member of the 3rd Coast String Quartet, Gabriel arranged and composed many original works for string quartet. He continues to write and arrange music for strings, other instruments and voice. Most recently, he has created a system to teach improvisation, fiddling and other styles of music not usually taught with the traditional classical repertoire. He calls this String Groove, which he teaches in courses and workshops throughout the country. Besides Elmhurst, he also teaches violin, viola, jazz strings, improvisation and String Groove at William Rainey Harper College. Gabriel holds an undergraduate degree in music from Northern Illinois University and a master of music in jazz studies from DePaul University.