Zachary Carrettin has performed as violinist, violist and conductor in twenty five countries on four continents, and has established a reputation for presenting dynamic and diverse programs which feature repertory from the seventeenth to the twenty-first centuries. In the realm of baroque, classic and romantic period instruments, he has served as concertmaster and concerto soloist with acclaimed chamber orchestras such as the American Bach Soloists in San Francisco, Musica Angelica in Los Angeles, Camerata Pacifica in Santa Barbara, Houston's Ars Lyrica, the Holy Trinity Bach Vespers Orchestra in New York, and at the Boulder Bach Festival, where recent performances elicited the following critical reviews:
“His tone was incredible and his sense of phrasing and voicing would surely have pleased Bach.” (Daily Camera)
“…a spellbinding interpretation that was fresh and adventurous, incorporating some improvisation but never becoming indulgent.” (Denver Times)
He has toured extensively and recorded with New World baroque music group, El Mundo, world-renowned choir Chanticleer, and with new age icon, Yanni. Known for his expressive approach to the baroque violin, Zachary Carrettin has inspired insights such as the following:
"Carrettin played freely, as though improvised.” (New York Times)
In the capacity of solo electric violinist, Zachary Carrettin has toured four continents with aerial dance troupe Project Bandaloop, including a special performance for the Sultan and Royal Family of Oman, in Muscat, and dynamic outdoor multi-media extravaganzas for the 2008 Stavanger Festival in Norway. His compositions have been heard at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the historic Shubert Theatre in Boston, the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Rovereto, Italy, and in Sao Paulo, Brazil, presented by the Bachiana Chamber Orchestra and commissioned by IBM. He has also premiered several new works for violin and orchestra as soloist with Orchestra X, in collaboration with Maestro John Axelrod, with the Magnolia Chamber Music Players in Portland, Oregon, and at the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival.
Mr. Carrettin holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in violin performance from Rice University Shepherd School of Music, where he was a student of Kenneth Goldsmith and Sergiu Luca. He is the Coordinator of Strings at the University of St. Thomas Music Preparatory School in Houston, and the 2011-2012 Artist-in-Residence with the Boulder Bach Festival.