Juan Pablo Contreras is one of Mexico’s up-and-coming young composers, and already has a slew of awards and prizes under his belt.
Born in Guadalajara in 1987, Contreras was a member of the Zapopan Youth Orchestra before moving to the United States, where he studied at the California Institute of the Arts and Manhattan School of Music.
In a recent interview, he said relocating to the United States allowed him “the opportunity to experiment … and be with musicians of my age who wanted to interpret my music.”
Had he remained in Mexico, Contreras said, it is doubtful he could have developed his career in the same manner.
His gongs include the BMI William Schuman Prize, the Dutch Harp Composition Contest, the Brian M. Israel Prize and Nicolas Flagello Award. He is also the resident composer at the Concerts on the Slope in Brooklyn, New York.
Despite having lived in the United States for the past nine years, Contreras’ music more often than not resonates with his Mexican roots, something he says will always be a part of him.