Mauricio Cespedes Rivero, was born in Cochabamba-Bolivia, started the violin, and later the viola with his father Fredy Cespedes (concertmaster of the Bolivian Symphony Orchestra) and his mother Maria Eugenia Rivero (principal cello Bolivian Symphony Orchestra). An active performer, Dr. Cespedes serves as principal viola of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, position that he won in 2008. He has acted as principal viola of the Bolivian National Symphony Orchestra, New World School of the Arts, Florida State University Orchestra, Lansing, Miami Symphony Orchestras, assistant violist of the Sinfonicum Europae Orchestra in the Millennium Concert at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center. In 2011 he won the You Tube Symphony Orchestra competition, and performed at the Sydney Opera House with maestro Michael Tilson Thomas.

As a chamber musician, Dr. Cespedes has performed in Europe, Asia, Australia, South and North America. He has been featured at the Mimir, Sewanee, Aspen music festivals, and at the Michigan Chamber Music Society. Dr. Cespedes has collaborated with notable artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Charles Pikler, Glenn Dicterow, Cynthia Phelps, Suren Bagratuni, Randolph Kelly, Jonathan Crow, Robert DeMaine, Seunghee Lee, Susana Perry Gilmore, Anton Neil, Roger Benedict, Colin Jacobsen, Stefan Jackiw, Zoya Leybin, and Richard Tognetti.

Dr. Cespedes has been a winner of the 2002 New World School of the Arts Concerto Competition, Ibero American Symphony Competition, Aspen Music Festival fellowship recipient, and finalist at the 2005 Osaka International Chamber Music Competition, sponsored by the Japan Chamber Music Foundation.

As a viola soloist, he has appeared with the New World School of the Arts Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Bolivian National Symphony Orchestra, The La Paz Symphony Orchestra, COFES International Festival Orchestra in Bolivia, The Festival del Sol Symphony Orchestra, Camerata Concertante of Cochabamba, the National Conservatory of Bolivia Symphony Orchestra and the El Alto Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Cespedes served as a member of the Faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan for six years. He has led master classes at Sam Houston State University, Wyoming State University, and New World School of the Arts.

He holds degrees from New World School of the Arts, Michigan State University, and Florida State University where he obtained his Doctorate degree. He will serve this summer as principal viola of the Ash Lawn Opera festival orchestra.

Besides music, Mauricio holds a degree in Environmental Engineering with an emphasis in Management of Protected Areas in Bolivia. Mauricio has two younger sisters, Adriana who plays Bass, and Wara who plays violin. He is very recently and happily married to his wife, Emily, who plays violin and accompanies him on piano.