Maestro Raúl Munguía joins the Nazareth University School of Music faculty as Director of Orchestras and String Studies this August 2023. The Honduran conductor and pedagogue began his musical studies in San Pedro Sula at the Victoriano López Music School. Notable among his recent awards are Honorable Mention at the prestigious Premio Respighi in NYC in 2022, Excellence in Creative Activity by the College of Arts & Sciences at PSU, and Musician of the Year by the State Music Clubs of Kansas.
Munguía is a versatile musician combining his work in orchestral conducting with an active career as an orchestral musician and a chamber player. He has been guest conductor of the Honduras Philharmonic Orchestra, the San Pedro Sula Chamber Orchestra, the Victoriano López Symphony, the University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra, The Joven Camerata of EL Salvador, The San Vicente Music Festival Orchestra in Chile, The Southeast Kansas Symphony, the Iola Symphony, the Belgrade Camerata in Serbia, the OJUEM Symphony at University of Mexico among others. A passionate for the Opera genre, he has conducted the TTU Opera Company, Midland-Odessa Opera Company, the University of Southern Mississippi Theater Opera Company, The Pittsburg State University Opera and Theater company, and the Philharmonic of Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
A strong advocate of music education, maestro Munguía has served as clinician to several District and Honor ensembles in Kansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Chile, Brazil, & Honduras. A passionate proponent for the chamber music genre, Munguía founded and established the Pittsburg Festival of the Arts held every summer now in the city of Pittsburg, KS, with over fifteen concerts now in its 11th edition.
Maestro Munguía comes to Nazareth University from Pittsburg State University where he served as Director of Orchestras & Head of the String Area since 2012.
Dr. Munguia holds a Doctoral in Musical Arts degree in Orchestral Conducting from Texas Tech University where he studied with Dr. Andrew George and Dr. Bruce Wood; A Master in Orchestral Conducting and Violin Performance from Northwestern State University of Louisiana studying orchestral conducting with Dr. Douglas Bakenhus & violin with Dr. Andrej Kurti. He also holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from The University of Southern Mississippi under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Redfield working on both standard and period violin.
Dr. Munguía performs regularly as Duo Capriccioso (Violin/Viola & Flute Duo) with his wife, flutist Denissa Rivas.
School of Music Responsibilities
Education