Diego Guerra of Monterrey, Mexico, began his musical studies on viola at the age of 12 in middle school orchestra,
and made his solo debut 2 years later on violin in the San Diego State University Smith Recital Hall. He has performed
as an orchestra musician internationally in China and Mexico. Following his solo debut, Guerra turned to orchestral
conducting, studying with Alexandra Keegan, Jeff Edmons, and Michael Gerdes. He has performed with the San Diego and
East County Youth Symphonies while holding a regular position as a violist in the San Diego City Ballet Orchestra.
In addition to performing, Guerra has established himself as a teacher across San Diego. Having been teaching since 2013, his students hold titles of
Concertmaster in the San Diego Youth Symphony and participate in top ensembles of the Sweetwater Union High School District. Additionally,
he collaborates with the outreach programs at the East County and San Diego Youth Symphonies.
As a violist Guerra has participated in masterclasses with members of the Israel Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra,
San Diego Symphony, among others. On the podium he has worked with maestro Oundjian of the Toronto Symphony and had
his professional debut with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic in February of 2017.
Guerra will continue to study viola performance with Travis Maril at SDSU’s School of Music, simultaneously progressing in
conducting with Gerdes in the same program. Diego serves as the Principal violist and assistant conductor of both the SDSU
Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, playing on a 1973 Otto Erdesz viola.