Rafael Jimenez Rojas

Rafael Jiménez Rojas, born March, 31 1961 in Mexico D.F., Mexico is a....
==Achievements==
First place winner at three separate international contests: “XVII International Guitar Contest at Alessandria, Italy” 1984. “II Manuel M. Ponce International Guitar Contest, México” 1986, “II Festival and First International Guitar Contest of the City of Xalapa” 1991, Honorable Mention at the National Youth Award in Mexico, 1984, winner of the National Youth Award in 1985 and mention of excellence in Musical Distinction awarded by the president of Mexico in 1986.
He entered the School of Music at the Universidad Veracruzana with the noteworthy guitarists Alfonso Moreno and Enrique Velasco, graduating as a concert guitarist in 1986.
Receiving unanimous approval and honors, in 1992 he receives his diploma in Guitar Art Studies, concluding his master's studies in Musical Improvement with the extraordinary maestro Manuel López Ramos. During his professional studies he participated in the National Guitar Contest in Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico obtaining first place in 1979 and in the "II International Contest and Festival in Havana, Cuba" achieving second place and special award for the best interpretation of Latin American music in 1984.
He has performed as a soloist with the major symphony orchestras of Mexico as well as several in the United States and Europe. Additionally, he has participated in various national and international festivals. Distinguished composers have dedicated works to him, among them maestros René Saldivar, Xavier Camino, Gerardo Tamez, Eduardo Angulo, Arturo Jiménez, Ryszard Siwy, Rafael Jiménez, Francisco González, and Adey Berea.
In May 2006 he received the "Dean's Award" by the Universidad Veracruzana for outstanding contributions in elevating the prestige of that institution, displaying academic leadership.
He has recorded 6 CDs as a soloist, and 5 with the Classical Guitar Ensemble of the Universidad Veracruzana, of which he is a founding member and its Artistic Director from 1987-2019. He is an instructor at the Institute for Advanced Music of the State of Veracruz, and concurrently carries on his professional career as a concert soloist mainly with the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra as well as the guitar and cello duet which he leads accompanied by his daughter, cellist Karla Jimenez.
In September 2017 he toured China with much success, invited there by the Mexican consulate to China.
Rafael uses a guitar made in Tokyo, Japan by master craftsman Masaru Kohno, number 50 of the year 1978. He uses PREMIER 220 W (Sonatina) strings made in Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico. He also uses a Spanish guitar made by renowned Argentine luthier Joaquín García, using PREMIER 220 W (Sonatina) strings made in Paracho, Michoacán, Mexico.
==Reviews==
"There is no doubt that a great destiny and world recognition awaits this artist" - Aisthuller Vladimir, Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra (Leningrad 1988.)
"Dear Rafael, I have been immensely happy in listening to your Aranjuez Concert. Your musicality, your beautiful sound and your knowledge of the work has excited me very much" - Claudio Arrau (New York 1989).
“Rafael Jiménez, one of the best guitarists to pass through my hands” - Manuel López Ramos (México 1988).
"As soon as Rafael Jimenez finished playing Fantasy for a Gentle Man by Joaquin Rodrigo
accompanied by the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra, the audience at the Degollado Theater rose from their seats to deliver a standing ovation" - Alejandro Alvarado, (Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Mural Daily on April 1, 2007)
==Guitar and Cello Duet==
The guitar and cello duet composed of maestros Rafael and Karla Jimenez has 
reached an important place in the preference of music lovers, thanks to its uncompromising musical quality and its participation at important cultural forums, among them: Tijuana, Michoacán, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, Colima, Querétaro, Chiapas, Puebla, and Veracruz in Mexico, as well as both national and international festivals.
In recognition of their professionalism and exceptional musical sensibility, distinguished composers have written and specially dedicated music to them, among these composers are Xavier Camino, René Saldivar, Rafael Jiménez Domínguez and Adey Berea.
Their repertoire encompasses from the baroque to the contemporary periods, including compositions by J.S. Bach, A. Vivaldi, Luigi Boccherini, Camille Saint Saëns, Peter I. Tchaikovsky, A. Dvorak, Isaac Albeniz, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Manuel de Falla, Abner Rossi, Rafael Jiménez D, Julio César Oliva, A. Berea, Emmanuel Arias, René Saldivar, Xavier Camino, Gerardo Taméz and Eduardo Gamboa.
Both father and daughter graduated with honors from the School of Music at the Universidad Veracruzana and have carried out graduate studies in their respective instruments with the distinguished maestros Manuel López Ramos and Richard Markson.
Category:1961 births
Category:Universidad Veracruzana alumni	
Category:Mexican people
Category:Guitarists
Category:Musicals