Isaac Casal, Artistic Director - Violoncello

A visionary of his generation, Isaac founded the Fundación Sinfonía Concertante de Panamá (FUNSINCOPA) at the age of 25. The foundation’s mission has been to create educational music programs for low-income children and youth, including an orchestra system for high-risk children inspired by the orchestral program, El Sistema de Venezuela. He is also the Artistic Director and founder of the Alfredo Saint-Malo Music Festival of Panama (ASMF), an annual week-long festival that began on May 25, 2007. It has become one of the most important music festivals in the Central American region.

In May 2019, the Festival was recognized by law by the Panamanian government as an annual national festival. In June 2015, the ASMF received the “Anita Villalaz” award, granted by Panama’s Anita Villalaz National Cultural Award Committee.

Isaac Casal is a classically trained Panamanian cellist with an international career spanning the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. He has recently performed as soloist with Luis Casal and Mariana Airaudo with the Southwest Minnesota State Orchestra, at the Central Conservatory in Beijing and at Carnegie Hall, where he premiered contemporary works. He founded the Ensamblast Project, which released its second album “El Templar de los Tambores” in April 2025. He is also the founder of FUNSINCOPA and artistic director of the Alfredo de Saint Malo Festival, which is celebrating its 19th anniversary. He holds degrees from FIU, Baylor, SMU, and a DMA from LSU.