Dr. Raphael Pazo, Jr., is the Musical Director of  "California Bagpiper, Music of Elegance and Distinction", a distinguished group of top-grade musicians, famous for their vast repertoire of music for the Great Highland Scottish Bagpipes and Irish War Pipes, and their impecable presentation, ranging from , Informal, Formal, High Dress (most formal), Historic, Regimental (Military), Law Enforcement,  and Classic Authentic Highland Fashion. 

 The ensemble is always prepared for performing, enhancing your special event with the Majestic Sound of the Scottish Highland Bagpipes.

Dr. Pazo was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, U.S.A., into a family of talented musicians.  From an early age, his parents instilled a strong sense of self-discipline, not only in his academic studies, but also in his musical studies.

For early childhood, his daily musical training included training in musical theory, solfege (Sol-fa), music dictation, ear training, singing (voice) chamber music, rhythm, transposition, and choir for two full years, before being allowed to take up the violin and viola as his instruments of choice.  

Raphael excelled in many of his musical endeavors, winning numerous solo and chamber music competitions that allowed him to travel around the world before he was 12.  At age 14, he became one of the youngest musicians to play with the prestigious Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico Philharmonic Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Opera Orchestra, San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid (Madrid Symphony Orchestra), Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields Orchestra, Berlin Symphony, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Leipzig Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, the Seoul Philharmonic (Korea), The Manila Symphonic Ensemble (Philippines), and the Taiwan Symphony Orchestra,  the Sydney Symphony and Perth Symphonic Ensemble during his career as a musician, and Guest Featured Artist, winner of several competitions for young musicians.

Dr. Pazo has sang with several professional choral assembles in a multitude of languages including Italian, Spanish, French, German, Latin, Ladino, Hebrew, Arabic, Aramaic, French, Portuguese, Tagalog and many others.   

When he was 13, he studied violin and viola at the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music), under the tutelage of the world-famous Fiqueroa Brothers of Hato Rey, Puerto Rico.  At age 15, his family moved to San Francisco, California, and there he studied Viola with Russian-born Violist, Mr. Leonid Gessin at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, under an annonymous scholarship.  His benefactor later revealed herself: Mrs. Loiuse M. Davies (after whom they named the San Francisco Symphony Hall).  He continued his Classical Music studies, and earned a Baccalaureate Degree on Music.

He spend many of his summers abroad in musical camps on in concert tours worldwide, performing for most of Europe’s Royalty and numerous Heads-of-State in Asia, Africa, South America and the Middle East.

Having an eagerness to always learn more, he participated in Masters’ Classes of Classical Music interpretation conducting and performance with Lord Yehudi Mehunin, Sir Isaac Stern, Yoyo Ma, Jiah Ha Ling, Kurt Mazur, Zubin Metha, Neville Mariner to name a few. 

After that, Raphael joined the U.S. Army, and served in the Medical Service and Military Intelligence Corps, stationed in the Middle East and Central America, TDYs (temporary duty assigments, attachments and detachments).

After additional education, Raphael selected the Scottish Highland Bagpipes, and sought tuition with some of the world’s most famous and prestigious teachers, including the rudiments of light music and Piobaireachd, the classical music of Bagpiping.  He studied with Pipe Major Harry Sinclair MacNulty, Dugald MacNeill, Bruce Hitchings (all of Scotland), Pipe Major Bill Livingstone (of London, Ontario, Canada), and Aaron Shaw and Ian Whitelaw in California.

 Education:

- Associate’s Degree in Science in Mortuary Science and holds credentials and license as a Funeral Director and Embalmer

- Associate’s Degree in Administration of Justice, with credentials as a Police Officer (Police Academy) and Deputy Coroner.

- Baccalaureate Degree in Biology and Baccalaureate Degree in Businees Administration, with concentration in Molecular Biology and Business Management. Double Major student with U.S. Army Scholarship.  

- Baccalareaute Degree of Arts in Music with emphasis in music performance, theory, solfege, composition, conducting, music arranging and other music curricula.

- Masters Degree In Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Business Management.

- Masters Degree in Arts in Language Arts with concentration in Hebrew, Ancient Hebrew, Arameic and Arabic.

- Doctorate of Philosophy in International Trade and Commerce, with emphasis in Diplomatic International Negotiations and International Commerce.

- Doctorate in Philosophy in Comparative Religions, with emphasis in history and origin of Western and Eastern religions.  

Ordained Rabbi (Sephardic) -  June 2005

Interests:  Classical music; Freemasonry; comparative religion and theology; ancient, modern and military history; language art;' non-western musicology' motorcycle riding; equestrian polo; fencing; martial arts; sailing; classic literature; cinema; philosophy and psychology.

Military: U.S. Army; served with United Nations Peace Keeping Forces in the Middle East. Recepient of the following Skill/Qualification Badges and Medals: Combat Medical Badge, Jump Master Paratrooper Wings, Air Assault Wings, Path Finder Badge (Torch and Wings), Spanish Army Parachutist Jump Wings, Israeli Army (T.Z.A.H.A.L.l)  Paratrooper Jump Wings; Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters (3 awards), Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster (2 awards), National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the United Nations Medal and army Service Ribbon.

Musical instruments: (I play over 50 musical instuments) Great Highland Bagpipes, Northumbrian pipes, Parlour Pipes, Spanish Bagpipes - Gaitas Gallegas, Aragonezas and Asturianas, Viola, Violin, Violocello, Bass (French and German Bowing), Classical Guitar, Cuatro, Triple, Lute, Egyptian Oud, Mandolin, Ukelele, Clarinet, Hurdy-Gurdy, Flute, Recorders or "Flauti Dolci" (medieval flutes), all types, from Sopranino to Bass), Irish Tin Whistles, Ocarinas, Harmonicas, Australian Aborigene Didgeridoos, Israeli Shofar (Ram's Horm), Andean Ingigenous Wooden Flutes, Pan Flutes and Zampogna. Also sing Baritone in various languages.

Languages: English, Spanish, Italian, French, German, Portuguese, Rusian, Latin, Urdu, Pashto, Arabic, Aramaic and Hebrew.

Dr. Pazo plays a set of Henderson Pipes Serial #2, made of African Blackwood, Heavy Silver hallmarked in the U.K. , and Mastodon Ivory.  (See photos under "My Instruments")