Audition Cafe

Introduction

As a violinist and teacher, Dustin Cunningham has been active in the Texas music scene for well over a decade, with a performance in the Virtuosi of Houston youth orchestra alongside the Houston Symphony an early highlight of his career. Dustin performed with a select ensemble from the Virtuosi of Houston on “Good Morning, Houston” before their concert at the 2016 Black Tie and Boots Gala in Washington, D.C. as part of national celebrations for the US Presidential Inauguration Ceremony. Since then, he has been blessed to perform with internationally acclaimed Persian artist Dariush, American music legend Lee Greenwood, award winning a cappella group “BYU Vocal Point”, and many more. Dustin has brought music to the stage of the Hobby Center, Jones Hall, and Moores Opera House in Houston, TX; The Van Cliburn Concert Hall in Fort Worth, TX; The Grand 1984 Opera House in Galveston, TX; The Lincoln Center in New York City; and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Recent performances include solo recitals of works by Beethoven, Brahms, Florence Price, Franck, de Falla-Kreisler, Shostakovich, and more. In May 2024, Dustin graduated from the University of Houston – Moores School of Music with a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance, where he studied with Dr. Kirsten Yon. He now studies with Dr. Hae-Rim Lee at Texas Christian University, where he is a principal player.

Dustin loves connecting with people of all backgrounds and ages, especially through musical collaboration. In the fall of 2023, Dustin worked with five other amazing students from the Moores School of Music to found a new orchestra at the University of Houston, the Cougar Camerata. Their organization is entirely student run and brings together students and alumni from all majors on the UH campus. Until summer 2024, Dustin served as the founding Administrative Director and as one of the principal conductors for that ensemble, which held its premiere performance in April 2024 to resounding acclaim! He is also very possibly the person you heard drive by with loud funk music blaring from their car speakers and is known on occasion, or perhaps a little too often, to stay up late playing video games with his friends while snacking on chocolate-covered almonds and drinking a lovely glass (or three) of chocolate milk!!