Guillermo (Bill) Ayerbe has been a fixture in the Fayetteville and North Carolina music scenes for over 25 years as a teacher and performer.  Originally from Jersey City, NJ, he began studying the violin at the age of 3 under his father who had studied himself at a young age. At the age of 6 he was enrolled in the Ukrainian Music Institute of America studying under Rafael Wenke.  During his younger years he performed throughout the New York area, performing at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, He was not involved in orchestral playing until the age of 17 when he auditioned and became Concertmaster of the New Jersey Youth Symphony.  Later that year of 1985, the symphony performed at Barbican Hall in London and won the International Orchestral Competition in Neerpelt, Belgium. Upon graduation from the Ukrainian Music Institute of America, Guillermo decided to pursue law at New York University instead of music, but continued his violin studies with Dr. Robert Kella of  the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Nancy Lederer formally of the Juilliard School. After transferring to Creighton University in 1986, he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science in 1989.

 

He was brought to Fayetteville in 1991 after joining the military and was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division until 1995. After completing his tour he joined the Fayetteville Symphony and eventually became Concertmaster. Guillermo has appeared three times as a soloist with the Symphony, performing Saint-Saens Rondo Capriccioso, Meditation from “Thais”, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, and Lalo’s Symphonie  Espagnole. In 2017, he resigned his position as Concertmaster and currently holds the title of Concertmaster Emeritus.

 

Guillermo has also been an avid popular music performer, blending his electric violin into whichever genre is needed including Irish, pop, rock, country, and rap. In 1997 he formed a partnership with Paddy Gibney, an Irish singer songwriter. Together they developed an impressive fan base throughout North and South Carolina. Currently he plays with John David Shaw as the duo JD and Bill. Guillermo has been a sought after recording musician as well, with 7 CD’s to his credit, including an Ecuadorian Classical CD recorded with the late Harlan Duenow.

In 2018, Guillermo was nominated and inducted into the Fayetteville Music Hall of Fame. He continues to teach privately and is also the lead violin instructor at the Fayetteville School of Music.