The Washington Post praised violist Juan-Miguel Hernandez as having “…the sweetest, most sonorous timbre…” (Charles T. Downey). The Atlanta Journal Constitution described him as “…tender, lyrical, full of personality” (Pierre Ruhe). 

Juan-Miguel Hernandez has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in the world’s greatest venues, including Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Disney Hall (Los Angeles), the Mozarteum Salzburg, King’s Place (London), the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Wigmore Hall (London), and the White House.   

As a soloist, Juan-Miguel has performed with orchestras such as the Rochester Philharmonic, the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the iPalpiti Orchestra, as well as the Colorado and Atlanta Symphony Orchestras. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with renowned artists such as Lynn Harrell, Ralph Kirshbaum, Kim Kashkashian, Gérard Caussé, and Itzhak Perlman.  

With chamber music at the forefront of his career, Juan-Miguel was a member of the legendary Fine Arts Quartet (2013-2018) and an original member of the Harlem Quartet (2006-2012), as well as a founding member of the Boreal Trio (2012-2018) and current member of the Trio Virado (flute, viola, and guitar), both specializing in the creation of new repertoire. 

Among the festivals and programs he has participated in as a guest artist and teacher are the Pablo Casal Festival (Prades, France), the Festival des Arcs (France), the Amalfi Coast Music & Arts Festival (Italy), the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival (South Africa), the Brevard Summer Institute (USA), the Mozaic Festival (USA), the Festicamara (Colombia), the Montréal and Panama Jazz Festivals, the Musica Mundi International Festival (Belgium), the Borromeo Chamber Music Festival (Switzerland), the Madeline Island (USA), and the Festival Del lago (Mexico). 

He has appeared on radio and television in Canada and the United States, including NBC’s Good Morning America, The Today Show, NPR radio, PBS, Telemundo, and Radio-Canada. His recordings have been released by Cedille records, White Pine, Navona, and Naxos labels. 

Juan-Miguel was born in Montréal, Canada, and began his musical studies at the age of seven. His teachers include Jean MacRae, Paul Coletti at the Colburn Conservatory, and Kim Kashkashian at the New England Conservatory. He has also worked with Dimitri Murrath, Paul Neubauer, Karen Tuttle, Steven Dann, James Dunham, Barbara Westphal, and Pinchas Zukerman. 

Juan-Miguel won first prize at the Johannes Brahms International Competition (Austria), joining other first prizes won at the Canadian National Music Competition and the 9th National Sphinx Competition, presented by JPMorgan Chase. He was honoured with the Medal of the National Assembly of Quebec for his significant international achievements. 

His strong commitment to educating and engaging new audiences around the world has led him, as a member of artistic convoys, to connect with young musicians and diverse communities in South Africa and Venezuela, various music festivals in South America, and cultural mediation projects in Europe and North America.  

In 2016, Juan-Miguel was appointed Professor of Viola at the Royal Academy of Music (London), where he is still a visiting professor after his return to Montréal. He was invited to be a jury member of the 2017 International Johannes Brahms Competition (Austria) and the 2018 Sphinx Competition (USA).  

In addition to his extensive classical repertoire, he has performed regularly with living jazz legends Gary Burton, Stanley Clark, Paquito D’Rivera, and Chick Corea. 

Other collaborations include Nora Jones’ album Broken Little Hearts, and the Grammy-winning album Hot House with Chick Corea and Gary Burton. 

Juan-Miguel received the MPower artist grant from the Sphinx organization. 

He plays a 2008 Miralles viola from Altadena, California.