Recognized worldwide as a musical phenomenon, Grammy-nominated Andrés Cárdenes parlays his myriad of talents into one of classical music's most versatile careers. Cuban-born Cárdenes has garnered international acclaim from critics and audiences alike for his compelling solo violin, conducting, viola, chamber music, concertmaster and recorded performances. Since capturing the second prize in the 1982 Tchaikovsky International Violin Competition in Moscow, Cárdenes has appeared as a soloist with over 100 orchestras on four continents. He has collaborated with many of the world’s greatest conductors, including Lorin Maazel, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Mariss Jansons, Charles Dutoit, Christoph Eschenbach Sir André Previn, Leonard Slatkin, Jaap van Zweden, David Zinman and Manfred Honeck.

Cárdenes is in great demand as a conductor. His appearances with the Bavarian Radio, Detroit Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Neue Philharmonie Westfalen, Sinfónica Nacíonal de Bogota, San Diego Symphony, Sinfónica de Caracas, and the OFUNAM Orchestra of Mexico City have received rave reviews. Cárdenes has interpreted concerti by Brahms, Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Barber, Balada, Chausson, Gutíerrez, and David Stock on the Artek, Naxos and Albany labels. He has recorded the complete works for violin by Leonardo Balada and the complete violin and piano sonatas by Hindemith and Schubert. Cárdenes' discography includes over three dozen concerti, sonatas, short works, orchestral and chamber music recordings. Cárdenes is the co-founder and artistic and music director of the Josef Gingold Chamber Music Festival, a program geared towards educating young musicians in chamber music and solo repertoire inspired by the teachings, legacy, humanity and ideology of the legendary violinist.

Cárdenes has premiered and/or recorded over 60 works by diverse composers such as Ricardo Lorenz, David Stock, Leonardo Balada, Elbert Lechtman, Beatrice Bilbao, Marilyn Taft Thomas, Erberk Eryilmaz, Ramiro Cortés, Roberto Sierra and Gunther Schuller. He has served on the juries of the Tchaikovsky, Schoenfeld, Osaka and Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competitions and thrice served as jury president of the Stradivarius International Violin Competition. He is honored to serve as the permanent jury president for the Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition.

The year 2024 marks the 47th anniversary of Cárdenes' renowned teaching and pedagogical career, which began as an assistant to his teacher and mentor Josef Gingold at Indiana University. Today, Cárdenes continues Professor Gingold's legacy and discipline while holding the title of distinguished artist-in-residence at Lynn. This title comes after 36 years as distinguished professor emeritus of violin studies and the Dorothy Richard Starling/Alexander Speyer Jr. Endowed Chair at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Music. In addition, Cárdenes gives master classes regularly at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Sibelius Akademie, Manhattan School of Music, Shanghai Conservatory, Moscow and St. Petersburg Conservatories, Cleveland Institute, Curtis Institute and at virtually every major university and conservatory in the United States, Europe, Asia and South America.