Javier Caballero, Director

Javier Caballero

Javier Caballero.
Photo: Robert Torres Photography

Executive Director Javier Caballero joined Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music in 2022 with nearly 20 years of experience as an arts leader, educator, and cellist. He is committed to celebrating Apple Hill’s 50-year legacy, preserving its spirit, and continuing to foster a community of radical inclusivity– Apple Hill has always been at the forefront of what it means to create space for everyone to have a voice, to feel valued, and to feel a sense of belonging across boundaries.

Mr. Caballero previously served as part of the senior leadership team at NPR’s From the Top as its Scholarship and Recruitment Manager, leading all aspects of its national admissions department as well as the prominent Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award. He also served as the Artistic Director of Project STEP, a string training program for students from underrepresented communities in classical music. He led student performances for the Governor of Massachusetts and the Mayor of Boston, as well as joint appearances with the Boston Pops. During his tenure, Project STEP visited the White House to receive an award from First Lady Michelle Obama in 2014 and returned in 2016 to perform for a State Dinner with President Obama. In 2017, Javier was invited to speak before the National Endowment for the Arts on Project STEP’s legacy of artistic excellence.

A graduate of the University of South Florida and the Boston Conservatory, Javier has studied with J. Alfredo Carbonell, Scott Kluksdahl, and Rhonda Rider. With performances in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, he has previously served on the faculties of Apple Hill, Point Counterpoint, and Boston University Tanglewood Institute’s Junior Strings Intensive summer festivals, as well as the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, and the Brookline and Watertown (MA) public schools.

He also serves on the board of directors for A Far Cry, The Theater Offensive, and Challenge the Stats. Born in Puerto Rico, Javier is a passionate advocate for artistic excellence, music education, and social justice.

Contact: javier@applehill.org

Click here to read an interview with Javier.

Click here to read an article in the Keene Sentinel.