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Composer Page for Carlos Cordero

carlos-cordero

Hola, People! My name is Carlos Cordero. I am a new choral music advocate, composer, hug-giver, and singer with a crazy mind. My passion for new choral music and connecting with others has led me to create meaningful experiences and relationships, including recently writing “Holding Our Breath” with poet Julie Flanders commissioned by ACDA’s Genesis Prize. I love writing music for choirs, which is why I create my brand The Happy Choir. Recent commissions include Chorus Austin, Salt Lake Vocal Artists, Ensemble Companio, Panoramic Voices, among others. I also write for instruments, just less often! My pieces have traveled around the world, including America, Europe, and Asia, allowing me to grow as an artist and collaborate with amazing communities.

I am currently working as a full-time composer, enjoying the journey of connecting with others through choral music, as well as advocating for choral composers and choirs through The Happy Composer Commission Project. Most of my scores are self-published on my website, The Happy Choir. Hal Leonard, Panamusica, E.C. Schirmer, and Selah Publishing publish some of my scores too.

I am originally from Venezuela, a beautiful country with delicious food where I got to be a choral conductor and music educator at El Sistema. I currently live in Austin, Texas, with my husband, Ryan Heller. I hold an M.M. in Composition from the University of Houston, as well as a B.M. and a Specialization in Composition from Universidad Católica Cecilio Acosta.

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We Are Waves – Voicing: SATB-SATB  Instrumentation: Piano, Double Bass (opt), Percussion  Performance Length: 4:45  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Julie Flanders  Language: English  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Honor Choirs, Mass Singing, Community Building  Descriptive Terms: Celebration, Community, People, Sharing, Help, Uplifting  First Performance: March 04, 2023 : Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia & Commonwealth Youthchoirs, Dominick DiOrio, Temple Performing Arts Center, 1837 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 1201/1726~2023-Q2)
Fresh Fruit – Voicing: SATB DIV.  Solo(s): Optional Alto  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 3:40  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Alannah Guevara  Language: English  Descriptive Terms: Vulnerability, Mental Health, Family, Latinx, Latin American, Culture  First Performance: April 24, 2022 : University Singers Cal Poly Humboldt, Rachel Samet, Arcata, CA    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 1201/1713~2023-Q1)
Let Your True Self Sing – Voicing: SATB DIV.  Solo(s): Optional Soprano Solo  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 3:00  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Ryan Heller  Language: English  Descriptive Terms: LGBTQ, Self-acceptance, Journey, Depression, Love, Celebration, Queer  First Performance: July 22, 2022 : Suono Chamber Choir, Alexander Bruce, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church - San Antonio, TX    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 1201/1679~2022-Q4)
Nada Te Turbe – Voicing: SATB DIV.  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 3:30  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Santa Teresa del Ávila  Language: Spanish  Descriptive Terms: Peace, Immigrant, Love, Sacred, Acceptance, Journey, Compassion, War  First Performance: November 20, 2018 : Concurso Internacional de Composición Coral Alberto Grau Virtual Choir, Ana María Raga, Online / Virtual    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 1201/1632~2022-Q2)
Normal – Voicing: SATB  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 1:40  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Deedra Van Ness  Language: English  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: General  Descriptive Terms: School Shooting, Violence, Loss, Help, Awareness, Social Justice  First Performance: October 24, 2021: The University of Akron Chamber Choir, Marie Bucoy-Calavan, Fairlawn Lutheran Church in Fairlawn, OH    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 1201/1616~2022-Q1)
Holding Our Breath – Voicing: SATB  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 5:45  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Julie Flanders  Language: English  Descriptive Terms: Hope, Fear, Vulnerability, Social Justice, Crisis, Pandemic, Breathing  First Performance: March 17, 2021 : Conspirare, Dr. Craig Hella Johnson, Online (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSbJ_mY7a6E)    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 1201/1582~2021-Q3)
Ayúdame (Venezuelan Plea for Life) – Voicing: SATB  Solo(s): Soprano  Instrumentation: Bass Drum Or Snare Or A Bell (in G Or D) Or Any Other Object  Performance Length: 5:00  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Carlos Cordero  Language: Spanish  Descriptive Terms: Venezuela, Struggle, Pleading, Lament, Hopeless, Current Events, Race  First Performance: July 21, 2019 : Suono Chamber Choir, Alex Bruce, Foundry UMC, Houston    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 1201/1549~2021-Q2)
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