Victor Murillo is a celebrated Ecuadorian multi-instrumentalist, composer, and cultural ambassador with more than 30 years of global performance experience. Born in Quito in 1973, he developed an early passion for Andean music and, at 18, moved to the United States, where he joined renowned Latin American folk ensembles including Fortaleza (Bolivia), Sol y Canto and Guamary (Chile), Wayanay Inca (Peru), and Ecuador’s own Yarina and Inca Sapi. His work with these groups has taken him to festivals, theaters, and educational institutions across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, sharing the richness of Andean tradition through concerts and cultural workshops.
A founder of the ensemble ZURKO, Victor has produced four albums and led international tours. He studied classical guitar in Texas, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music, and later completed postgraduate studies in Cultural Management. A decorated performer, he won the Best Acoustic Guitarist award at the 2000 Guitar Wars competition in Texas and performed daily at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom in 2006–2007.
Victor’s collaborations span continents and genres, working with acclaimed artists such as Cristian Castro, Alberto Plaza, Manuel Monrroy “El Papirri,” Julio Revueltas, Nicola Cruz, Balawan, Indrajit Banerjee, and Hossam Shaker, among many others. His musical journey has taken him to Singapore, South Korea, China, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and the U.S. as a cultural representative of Ecuador through the Ministry of Tourism. In 2012, he received the Best Folk Performance Award at the Seoul Tourism Festival with the 4 Mundos ensemble, the same year he contributed to the notable Cuba Discos project Full Moon’s Spell, highlighting his fusion of world music and jazz.
A respected educator, Victor has taught at the Mozarte Conservatory and several music academies in Quito. He continues to perform, collaborate, and record widely, and is currently producing a new album that blends traditional Andean music with contemporary fusion, reaffirming his role as a leading voice in global folk and world music.
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