His recent conducting engagements range from leading the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra and the

Miami Symphony Orchestra to directing the National Youth Orchestra of the RNOCIJP (Panama) and

the Teresa Carreño Symphony Orchestra. He has also showcased his artistic versatility with the Simón

Bolívar Choir, the Florida International University Symphony Orchestra, the Teresa Carreño Ballet, the

VUM Orchestra, the New River Orchestra, and the inaugural concert of the Miami Ocean Orchestra. On

the youth orchestras front, he led the 2024 spring concert of the All Broward County Honors Gold

Orchestra in Coral Springs, Florida, and was a Guest Conductor with The Kim Noltemy Young

Musicians orchestral program of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

In recent years, he has also earned recognition in conducting competitions. In 2021, he was a finalist in the

Los Angeles Conducting Workshop and Competition and was later invited to attend the Antal Dorati

(Hungary) and Nino Rota (Italy) International Conducting Competitions. In 2024, he won first prize in

the Kings Peak International Music Competition and second prize in the New York Classical Music

Competition. During this time, he also emerged as a finalist for the position of Assistant Conductor with

the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Most recently, in January 2025, he was named a winner of the

International Conductors Workshop and Competition in Atlanta, GA.

Luis earned a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting from Florida International University under Dr.

Mendoza, where he was recognized with the Graduate Performance Award and inducted into the honor

societies Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key for his academic achievements. He was subsequently appointed

Music Director of Florida International University’s Symphony Orchestra for the 2023 Fall Semester. At

this time, he receives mentorship from Professor Mark Shapiro of The Juilliard School.

For 16 years, Luis was a member of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra with Gustavo

Dudamel—serving as Principal Viola from 2006-2012. During that time, he completed more than 40

international tours alongside world-renowned musicians, earned a Latin Grammy Award for the album

Bidimensional (2017), and received a nomination for Fiesta (2008), both conducted by Dudamel. Aguilar

also served as Principal Viola on The Rite of Spring with Dudamel (2010) and Claudio Abbado—Easter 2010

at Lucerne Festival with Abbado (2011). He also had the privilege of performing with the Los Angeles

Philharmonic and the Goteborg Symphony Orchestras.

In Venezuela, he studied orchestral conducting with Maestro José Antonio Abreu, founder of El Sistema,

and led more than 20 professional and youth orchestras across the country, while continuing to hone his

ensemble-building skills with professional chamber music ensembles such as the Millenium, Caracas, and

Chilinguirian string quartets. His collaborations in this field extend to performing alongside notable

musicians, including Klaus Thunemann (bassoon), Jonathan Cohler (clarinet), Kalman Berkes (clarinet),

and Adalbert Skocic (cello). He also participated in workshops with the Latin American Quartet (2007)

and Rainer Schmidt, violinist of the Hagen String Quartet (2009).

Beyond his musical achievements, Luis served as Strings Coordinator for El Sistema’s National Orchestral

Program of Venezuela (2017-2018). During this period, he played a pivotal role in developing El Sistema’s

Procedures Manual, mapping out the viola curriculum for the upcoming El Sistema University, and

designing strategies such as national educational tours to foster the growth of youth and children’s

orchestras.

Luis passionately supports organizations dedicated to enhancing the lives of children and youth. His recent

contributions include serving as a guest clinician and conductor at The Kim Noltemy Young Musicians

program of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Sistema Ravinia (Ravinia Festival, Chicago). Additionally,

he has conducted the Young Mozarts String Orchestra, the Concert Chamber Ensemble, and the

Symphony Quartet within the Greater Miami Youth Symphony (Miami). His impact extends to leading

masterclasses for esteemed institutions, including Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA, Los Angeles), Big

Noise (Sistema Scotland, Stirling), Superar (Sistema Austria, Vienna), Batuta (Bogota, Colombia), Música

para Crecer of CAF Latin America (Panama City, Panama), NEOJIBA (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), and El

Sistema Venezuela.