Violinist Dr. Spencer Ekenes enjoys an active performance career as a recitalist, chamber, and orchestral musician. Since 2019, Spencer has been a member of the Burn City String Quartet and later cofounded its partner ensemble, Broke Fiddles. Spencer is currently principal second violin with MusicaNova Orchestra and has performed frequently with The Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Opera, AZ Musicfest Orchestra, and Cactus Chamber Musicians. Spencer spends a significant amount of time in Mexico performing in chamber ensembles as well as serving as concertmaster for the OperaMaya Orchestra, where he has also been featured as a soloist. Passionate about the violin/piano duo repertoire, Spencer has performed solo and duo recitals throughout the United States, Mexico, and Norway. Additionally, Spencer has engaged as a concerto soloist with the BYU-Idaho Symphony Orchestra, Eastern Arizona College Symphony Orchestra, ASU Baroque Ensemble, BYU-Idaho Baroque Ensemble, University of Idaho Festival Orchestra, and the University of Montana Fall Festival Orchestra.

Spencer completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Violin Performance from Arizona State University. Under the mentorship of Dr. Katherine McLin (ASU) and Dr. Samuel Máynez Champion (Conservatorio Nacional de México), he compiled the first publication of the complete works for violin and piano by the late Mexican violinist/composer Samuel Máynez Prince as his culminating project for his doctoral degree. Spencer has performed with the Tetra String Quartet and has participated in Tetra’s Chamber Music Institute as a coach and guest clinician. Dr. Ekenes has presented and taught masterclasses on violin and viola to high schools, colleges, universities, and festivals in Mexico and throughout the United States. Dr. Ekenes currently teaches an active studio of violin students in Mesa, Arizona.