Mario zelaya
Mario Zelaya is a highly accomplished violinist whose musical trajectory began at the age of 13 at the National School of Music in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. By age 15, he made his solo debut during a tour of Central America with the Chamber Orchestra of the National School of Music. His early technical ability was quickly noted, as he earned second prize and then, a year later, first prize in the National Competition in Honduras, all by the age of sixteen.These early successes culminated in his appointment as concertmaster of the Honduran Philharmonic, where he often performed as a featured soloist.
Zelaya earned both his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Violin Performance from the Lynn Conservatory of Music in Boca Raton, Florida, studying under the esteemed violinist and conductor Guillermo Figueroa. During his graduate studies, Zelaya achieved international recognition by winning first prize at the Cremona International String Competition in Italy, where he received two special awards for Best Bach and Best Virtuoso Piece.
As a concert soloist, Zelaya has performed extensively across Italy, Central America, and the United States. His 2025 season was highlighted by a tour in Honduras, where he appeared as a featured soloist with both the Philharmonic Orchestra of Honduras (OFH) and the Tegucigalpa Symphony Orchestra (OST). In addition to his solo appearances, he has being member of numerous professional ensembles, including the Palm Beach Symphony, Florida Grand Opera, South Florida Symphony, Symphony of the Americas, Southwest Symphony, Boca Symphonia, the Venice Symphony, San Antonio Opera and Ballet,NuDeco ensemble, Texas New Music Festival, the Andrea Bocelli Orchestra, and the Fabian Almazan Jazz Ensemble.
His career has been marked by collaborations with artists such as Andres Cardenes, James Buswell, Elmar Oliveira, Guillermo Figueroa, Kathleen Battle, Glenn Dicterow, Leon Fleisher, and Gerard Schwartz. His professional portfolio also includes a featured recording with the rock band Kansas on the concert “There’s No Place Like Home” and a performance at the 2023 Miami Grand Prix, live streamed by ESPN F1.
Currently based in Houston, Texas, Zelaya serves as adjunct faculty at Lone Star College and directs his private studio, the Zelaya Violin Studio. He maintains an active performance schedule, committed to the pursuit of excellence in the classical tradition while engaging with contemporary repertoire.