Luis Celis was appointed Associate Principal Bass of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in 2023, having served as a section bassist with the ensemble since 2022. A native of Maracaibo, Venezuela, Celis has participated in renowned fellowship programs, including the Tanglewood Music Center, Spoleto Festival USA, Curtis Institute Summerfest, Round Top Festival Institute, and the Bach Institute.

Celis earned a dual bachelor’s degree in Jazz Composition and Performance from Berklee College of Music, studying with Susan Hagen. He furthered his training through the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra/University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Diversity Fellowship Program, studying with Owen Lee. Before moving to the United States, he studied with Elvis Martinez and Maciej Zlotkowski at the Conservatorio De Música José Luis Paz in Maracaibo.

A versatile musician, Celis was a member of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute and has collaborated with GRAMMY and Latin-GRAMMY-winning artists, including Jacob Collier, Aida Cuevas, and Miguel Siso