Tomás Avilés, studying violin and neuroscience, takes a global path to Lawrence

From Colombia to Bulgaria to Lawrence University, a love and passion for music has followed junior Tomás Avilés.  

A native of Bogotá, Colombia, Avilés picked up the violin for the first time at the age of 6. His study of the instrument continued through a university youth music program in Colombia and, later, across the Atlantic to Bulgaria.

“When I was 13, my parents decided they wanted to have an experience somewhere else in the world,” Avilés said. “We moved (to Bulgaria), and I did all of my high school there. It was a beautiful experience to study there.”  

Avilés said his mother was a teacher and applied to teach at different schools around the world. A school in Bulgaria was the first to get in contact with her. During his high school years, Avilés continued his studies in the violin and performed in a few orchestras.  

Spending those years in Bulgaria, Avilés said, gave him a number of irreplaceable experiences.  

“It was a wonderful music scene to step into,” he said. “The orchestra opportunities were really generous there. I’d also say the traveling, the culture, the food, the people you meet—everything was just so wonderful.” 

One of those orchestra opportunities came right after Avilés moved to Bulgaria. He joined an orchestra a week out from their concert, and the conductor allowed him to perform with them. It was Avilés’s first concert in his new country, and he spent the whole week practicing. After performing in the concert, the audience called for an encore. 

Out of these experiences, Avilés learned that Bulgarian music is often something left unexplored.  

“It’s something that I had the privilege of engaging with a lot while I lived in Bulgaria,” he said. “So, what better way than to bring that music to Lawrence and to try to engage with it and put it out there for people.” 

Avilés had the opportunity to bring Bulgarian music to Lawrence when he performed in his junior recital Nov. 3 in Harper Hall. He performed selections from Rhapsody for Solo Violin No. 3 by Petar Hristokov and Sonata for Violin and Piano in D Major by Pancho Haralanov Vladigerov, celebrating two pieces that surrounded him during his time in Bulgaria. 

Finding a home at Lawrence

When deciding on where he would attend college, though—those roots traced back to Avilés’s time in Colombia. An instructor of his had attended the Eastman School of Music in New York around the same time as Samantha George, associate professor of music and teacher of violin at Lawrence. 

“When I was applying to school, she was like, ‘I don’t care where you get in. My first choice for you will always be Samantha George over at Lawrence University,’” Avilés said.  

Avilés committed to Lawrence sight unseen. Unsure what the campus or the people would be like, his excitement to study with George propelled him forward. After several years of study, Avilés said George serves as an example of musicianship.  

“I've never seen someone who is as consistently, invariably excited about everything music all the time,” Avilés said of George. “It’s a beautiful thing to study with her. To have that example of excitement and enthusiasm—that’s a wonderful thing.” 

The opportunity to pursue a dual degree also drew Avilés to Lawrence. In addition to violin performance, he selected neuroscience as his second major. His choice stemmed from a budding interest in psychology from his high school classes and helping his mom obtain her master's degree.  

Avilés looked at the Lawrence psychology and neuroscience course offerings side-by-side and found that neuroscience excited him more.  

“The kind of research...I could engage with at Lawrence painted a really cool picture for me,” Avilés said, “and I decided to go for neuroscience here.” 

On top of his studies, Avilés has also been a part of the chamber music scene and the Lawrence Symphony Orchestra. During one of the most recent concerts, Avilés recalls a moment while performing Tumblebird Contrails by Gabriella Smith. The piece, he said, is all about the ambient sounds you would hear in nature.  

“I snuck a peek at the audience while we were playing, and I saw so many people had their eyes closed,” Avilés said. “It felt so wonderful creating that space for them to make in their minds with the music and feel everything that was going on on stage.”  

Avilés has appreciated the constant and burgeoning music at Lawrence. With fantastic orchestra cycles, continuous recitals and concerts, and opportunities to learn from masters in their field, he feels there is always something to engage with at Lawrence.  

“Truly, I feel this place is a new home for me,” Avilés said. “It feels like I’m celebrated here. And that all comes from the administration here in the Conservatory, the faculty. I think all those values that are lived out in this building every day is what makes it possible for me to feel so comfortable doing what I do here.”