Meet the Visionary
Emilio Arredondo
From an early age, Emilio Arredondo found joy in music, inspired by fond memories of singing along to songs with his grandparents. By age three, he began formal music training through Kindermusik and piano, at six, chose the violin, a decision that set him on a lifelong journey with string instruments.
Emilio’s passion ignited when he discovered Celtic fiddle music, leading him to study with Roberta Rast of The Killdares and attend the Blair School of Music’s Fiddle Camp. His studies extended to Berklee College of Music, where he founded the Celtic Rock band Dublin Free Press, touring the Northeast and honing his craft in both classical and contemporary styles.
While at Berklee, Emilio joined Johnson String Instrument in Newton, MA, where he deepened his understanding of violin craftsmanship, sound quality, and instrument adjustments. He graduated Berklee in 2012 with a Performance Degree in Violin & Fiddle. Returning to Houston, he worked at local violin shops, taught hundreds of students, and joined the faculty of the American Festival for the Arts (AFA) in 2019. Although he no longer teaches, he can still be found inspiring minds and the next generation of fiddlers through the bands and music he plays.
In 2019, Emilio founded Fine Instrument Consulting, bringing his expertise to Houston’s string instrument market. The shop focuses on quality craftsmanship and rare instruments, filling a unique niche for musicians. During the pandemic, Emilio graduated with a Liberal Arts Master’s Degree with a Classical Violin Performance Concentration at the University of St. Thomas under Houston Symphony violinist Rodica Gonzalez in 2021.
Craftsmanship.
Quality.
Integrity.
Beyond his shop, Emilio serves on the board of the Houston Professional Musicians Union, and the Violin Society of America Membership & Marketing Committee. As a proud Houston Heights resident, he spends his free time exploring local restaurants, attending concerts, supporting local business (Buchanan's, Riva's, Kaboom Books, to name a few), walking around the neighborhood with his dog Gizmo, and traveling in search of unique string instruments. As an active fiddle player and violinist, Emilio regularly performs with Celtic bands such as Blaggards, The Dead Rabbits, & Dublin Free Press. He has also served as fiddle player or made appearances with for EJ Jones, Poor Man's Fortune, Kendall Rogers, The Killdares, Mark Wood (Electrify Your Strings Program), and many others. He has also had the opportunity to take lesson at fiddle camps or privately with amazing fiddlers such as, Megan Lynch Chowing, Hanneke Cassel, Natalie Haas, Jean-Luc Ponty, Vassar Clements, Liz Carrol, Crystal Plowman, Daniel Carwile, and many others. His classical performances range from being the Concertmaster of the Houston Pride Orchestra, to a section violinist for San Antonio Pride Orchestra, Symphony of Southeast Texas, and the Houston Latin American Philharmonic.
