Zakarias Grafilo

Zakarias Grafilo is a violinist, conductor, and educator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He serves as the director of the Morrison Chamber Music Center Instructional Program at San Francisco State University (SFSU), where he also directs the University Orchestra and teaches violin. Additionally, he coaches chamber music and directs the New Millennium Ensemble at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) Pre-College Division.

Education

• B.A. in Liberal Studies, San Francisco State University
• Honorary Degrees from St. Lawrence University and Allegheny College
• Presidential Medal from Baruch College (CUNY)

As 1st violinist of the Alexander String Quartet (since 2002), Mr. Grafilo has performed globally and recorded complete string quartet cycles of Beethoven, Brahms, Shostakovich, Bartók, and Kodály. His arrangements of Mahler, Wagner, and Strauss song cycles for string quartet and mezzo-soprano have received critical acclaim, including the Foghorn Classics recording In meinem Himmel. He has collaborated with artists like Joyce Yang, Branford Marsalis, and Robert Greenberg.

Notable Ensembles

• Alexander String Quartet (1st violinist, 2002–present)
• Pacific Symphony (Principal 2nd violinist, 2000–2002)
• Opera Pacific (Principal 2nd violinist, 2001–2002)
• Stockton Symphony (Concertmaster, 1999–2001)