Dr. Cespedes is a winner of the New World School of the Arts Concerto Competition, Ibero American Symphony Competition, Aspen Music Festival fellowship, and finalist in the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition, sponsored by the Japan Chamber Music Foundation.
As soloist, he has appeared with the New World School of the Arts Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Maitland Symphony, Bolivian National Symphony Orchestra, La Paz Symphony Orchestra, COFES International Festival Orchestra, Festival del Sol Symphony Orchestra, Camerata Concertante of Cochabamba, National Conservatory of Bolivia Symphony Orchestra, and El Alto Symphony Orchestra.
As a chamber musician, Dr. Cespedes has performed in Europe, Asia, Australia, South and North America. He has been featured at the Aspen, Mimir, and Sewanee music festivals, and at the Michigan Chamber Music Society. Dr. Cespedes has collaborated with notable artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, 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.
Currently, Dr. Cespedes serves as principal violist of the Orlando Philharmonic. In the past he served as principal violist for the Lansing, Miami, New Word School of the Arts, and Bolivian National Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Ash Lawn Opera Company. One of his most memorable performances was with members of the New York Philharmonic at the Millenium Concert at Lincoln Center in New York. In 2011 Dr. Cespedes won an international competition to participate in the YouTube Symphony Orchestra and perform at the Sydney Opera House in Australia. He has collaborated with composers such as Mason Bates, Stella Sung, Ellen Tafte Zwilich (Naxos Recording), and John Williams.
As a frequent guest conductor with the Orlando Philharmonic, Dr. Cespedes has conducted the orchestra in Young People’s Concerts, pops concerts, and had the privilege to conduct excerpts of the Brahms Double Concerto with Colin and Eric Jacobsen as soloists. Other orchestras he has conducted include the Stetson University Orchestra, the New Score Chamber Orchestra, the A Gift for Music orchestra, and Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras.
Currently, Dr Cespedes is a conductor for the Metropolitan Area Youth Symphony. He holds music degrees from New World School of the Arts, Michigan State University, and Florida State University, where he obtained his doctoral degree. Besides music, Mauricio holds a degree in Environmental Engineering with an emphasis in Management of Protected Areas in Bolivia.