Vladimir Rufino, violin
Vladimir Rufino is a Brazilian-Canadian violinist known for his passionate artistry and stylistic versatility. He holds a Doctor of Music from the University of Alberta, a Master of Music and Artist Certificate from Azusa Pacific University (USA), and a Bachelor of Music from the Universidade Federal da Paraíba (Brazil).
Dr. Rufino has performed extensively across Brazil, North America, and Europe, with appearances at prestigious venues such as Disney Hall, Symphony Space, and the Juilliard School’s Starling-Delay Symposium. As an experienced orchestral musician and leader, he has served as soloist, concertmaster, and assistant concertmaster with ensembles in Brazil, the United States, and Canada.
A dedicated chamber musician, Dr. Rufino has performed with ensembles including Quarta Dimensão, Camerata Brasílica, the Villa-Lobos String Quartet, and currently serves as first violinist of the Vaughan String Quartet. His chamber music career spans from duo work—particularly in collaboration with violist Fabiola Amorim—to leadership in ensembles that promote both musical excellence and community engagement. He is also a passionate advocate for Brazilian music, with recordings such as From Brazilian Northeast (Azul Music, 2022) highlighting works by composers from his home country.
In addition to his performance career, Dr. Rufino is a committed educator and mentor. He teaches violin at the Winspear Centre’s Conservatory of Music and Mount Royal University Conservatory in Alberta, adjudicates at festivals and competitions, and brings to his students a wealth of experience from both the concert stage and the classroom.
