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")