Violist Luis Enrique Vargas is a member of the Euclid Quartet since 2001 and teaches viola and chamber music at Indiana University South Bend where he was appointed Lecturer in 2007. Born in Venezuela and brought up in a family of musicians he was first introduced to the music world at age 14 when he became a member of the internationally renowned "El Sistema" of the Venezuelan Youth Orchestra. He quickly established a reputation for his talent and dedication for the viola. During his formative years he studied at the Vicente Emilio Sojo and the Simon Bolivar Conservatories of Music in Venezuela.
He moved to North America in 1997 where he pursued a Diploma in Chamber Music at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, Canada, guided by the Penderecki String Quartet. He also obtained a Master's Degree in Music Performance from Miami University of Ohio and a Performer's Certificate from Northern Illinois University.
He is currently a member of the Recording Academy (the Grammy Awards organization), as well as an adjudicator for the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, and a member of the board of directors of the Hugo Kauder Society and advisor for their International Music Competition. In addition, he was a member of the Cuarteto America (1995-1999) with which he performed extensively throughout Venezuela and in Luxembourg, Germany, Colombia, Mexico, Canada and the United States. With the orchestras of "El Sistema," namely the Lara Symphony and the Simon Bolivar Orchestra, he performed in multiple tours to Brazil, Curaçao, Spain and France over the span of nine years. With the Simon Bolivar Orchestra he recorded "Latino-American Lollipops" a compilation of Latino-American masterpieces under Dorian Label.
He currently serves on the faculty of the Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts at Indiana University South Bend, where he teaches viola and chamber music.