Violist-violinist Roberto Alvarado Switala began his musical studies at age 6. In 2006, he appeared on the NPR radio show “From the Top”, as well as in the PBS television show, “From the Top: Live at Carnegie Hall”. Robert was awarded 1st prize at the 2007 National SPHINX Competition and subsequently soloed with the SMU, TCU, Florida, New World, Hartford, Colorado, Nashville and Fort Worth Symphony orchestras.
His violin mentors include Itzhak Perlman, Paul Kantor, Jan Sloman, and Almita Vamos, and his viola mentors Misha Galaganov and Roland Vamos. As an in-demand chamber musician, Robert has participated in numerous chamber festivals, including Perlman, Chautauqua, Keshet Eilon, Mimir, Sarasota, Kneisel Hall, and Artosphere music festivals, and been a guest artist at Juliani Chamber Series, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Kennedy Center Chamber Players, Ravinia Summer Music Institute, and Chicago Symphony Presents.
As an orchestral musician, Robert has held positions in the El Paso and Las Cruces symphonies, substitute positions for the Minnesota, Nashville, Fort Worth, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Chicago Sinfonietta and Grant Park orchestras, and currently holds positions as Assistant Principal Viola for SPHINX Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and section viola for Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra.