Violinist Daniel Guillen-Navarro has Died, Aged 25

On Monday evening, violinist Daniel Guillen-Navarro tragically passed away after the train he was on became derailed as it was traveling toward the Mödling district in Lower Austria. 

At 25, Guillen-Navarro played tutti first violin in the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, a position that started in February this year. Hailing from Eisenstadt, he was seen as a talented violinist and a close friend to many of his colleagues.

The cause of the derailment is not yet clear, but it is reported that three severe and nine minor injuries occurred. At the scene, the State Criminal Police Office assessed the accident and investigations are still ongoing.

As of this week, tachographs — which show data of an engine’s speed over a certain period — have been ordered by the public prosecutor’s office, and according to Heuter E-news, an expert was able to map out ​the situation on Tuesday night for further examination.

“It is with great sadness and dismay that we announce that our orchestra member Daniel Guillen Navarro was killed in a train accident yesterday,” ORF posted on Facebook. “Daniel played as a tuttist in the group of First Violins in the trial year since February 2022. 

“We met him as a very talented violinist and a balanced, friendly and enthusiastic orchestra musician,” they continued. “Now we stand stunned and shaken by this terrible accident and have to say goodbye to Daniel Guillen. Our thoughts are with his family and his parents.”

Our condolences to Mr. Guillen-Navarro and his family, friends, and colleagues.