Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

September 26, 1972 in Berkeley, CA

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Gabriela Lena Frank is a contemporary classical music composer who has gained international recognition for her unique blend of Western classical music and Latin American folk music. Born on September 14, 1972, in Berkeley, California, Frank grew up in a multicultural family with a Peruvian mother and a Jewish father. Her parents were both musicians, and her mother introduced her to the music of Peru and other Latin American countries at a young age. Frank began playing the piano at the age of five and later learned to play the viola. She attended Rice University in Houston, Texas, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in composition and a Bachelor of Arts degree in piano performance. She then went on to earn a Master of Music degree in composition from the University of Michigan. Frank's music is heavily influenced by her multicultural background and her travels throughout Latin America. She has spent time living and studying in Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, and has incorporated the rhythms, melodies, and instruments of these countries into her compositions. Her music often features elements of Andean folk music, Afro-Peruvian music, and other Latin American styles. One of Frank's most well-known works is her "Concertino Cusqueño," which was commissioned by the Houston Symphony Orchestra in 2001. The piece is based on the music of the Andean region of Peru and features traditional instruments such as the charango and the quena. It has been performed by orchestras around the world, including the New York Philharmonic and the San Francisco Symphony. Another notable work by Frank is her "Hilos," which was commissioned by the Kronos Quartet in 2010. The piece is based on the music of the Andean region of Ecuador and features traditional instruments such as the marimba and the panpipes. It has been performed by the Kronos Quartet and other ensembles around the world. In addition to her work as a composer, Frank is also a dedicated educator. She has taught composition at the University of California, Berkeley, and has served as a mentor to young composers through programs such as the Young Composers Program at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. Frank has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Latin Grammy Award nomination, and a United States Artists Fellowship. She was also named a 2019-2020 Grawemeyer Award winner for her work "Conquest Requiem," which explores the impact of the Spanish conquest on the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Overall, Gabriela Lena Frank is a talented and innovative composer who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Her unique blend of Western classical music and Latin American folk music has earned her a dedicated following and has helped to expand the boundaries of classical music.

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