Role

:

Composer Conductor

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

1954 in Havana, Cuba

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Orlando Jacinto Garcia is a Cuban-American composer who has made significant contributions to the world of contemporary classical music. Born in Havana, Cuba in 1954, Garcia grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a composer and conductor, and his mother was a pianist. From a young age, Garcia was exposed to a wide range of musical styles, including classical, jazz, and traditional Cuban music. Garcia began his formal musical training at the National School of Music in Havana, where he studied composition with Harold Gramatges and piano with Cesar Perez Sentenat. In 1970, he moved to the United States to continue his studies at the University of Miami, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in composition. He went on to earn a Master of Music degree in composition from the University of South Florida and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition from the University of California, San Diego. Throughout his career, Garcia has been influenced by a wide range of musical styles and traditions. His compositions often incorporate elements of Cuban music, as well as avant-garde techniques and experimental forms. He has been particularly interested in exploring the relationship between sound and space, and many of his works are designed to be performed in specific acoustic environments. One of Garcia's most notable works is his 1992 composition "De La Brevidad De La Vida," which was commissioned by the Kronos Quartet. The piece is a meditation on the brevity of life, and features a series of short, fragmented musical phrases that gradually coalesce into a larger, more cohesive whole. The work has been praised for its innovative use of texture and timbre, as well as its emotional depth and complexity. Another important work by Garcia is his 2001 composition "Cinco Canciones Negras," which was commissioned by the Miami Chamber Symphony. The piece is a setting of five poems by the Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca, and features a solo soprano accompanied by a chamber orchestra. The work has been praised for its lush harmonies and evocative melodies, as well as its sensitive treatment of Lorca's poetry. In addition to his work as a composer, Garcia has also been active as an educator and administrator. He has taught at a number of universities, including Florida International University, the University of Miami, and Florida Atlantic University. He has also served as the director of the FIU School of Music and the New Music Miami Festival. Throughout his career, Garcia has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to contemporary classical music. In 2010, he was awarded the Knight Arts Champion award by the Knight Foundation, and in 2012 he was named a Knight Arts Challenge winner. He has also received grants and commissions from a number of organizations, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the American Composers Forum. Overall, Orlando Jacinto Garcia is a composer who has made significant contributions to the world of contemporary classical music. His works are characterized by their innovative use of texture and timbre, as well as their exploration of the relationship between sound and space. Through his compositions, Garcia has helped to expand the boundaries of classical music and create a new language for contemporary composers to explore.

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