Grammy-Nominated Composer to Visit Campus Today as Part of Hispanic Heritage Month

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Miguel del Aguila

Composer Miguel del Aguila, whose music has received numerous Grammy Award nominations, will be visiting the University of Arkansas campus on Monday, Sept. 17.

As part of the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, he will give a master class from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall, where he will talk about his career as a composer. This event is open to the public and is free. Del Aguila's new work for woodwind quintet, "Wind Quintet No. 3," was recorded by the UA's Lyrique Quintette for their recently released album, Arrivals and Departures: Music of the Americas.

Del Aguila was born 1957 in Montevideo, Uruguay. In more than 115 works that couple drama and driving rhythm with nostalgic nods to his South American roots, he has established himself among the most distinctive and highly regarded composers of his generation. Also a pianist, del Aguila understands music from the performer's perspective, which has earned him a devoted following among soloists and ensembles. His music has been performed worldwide by over 100 orchestras and by thousands of ensembles and soloists, and is recorded on numerous albums. 
 
Aguila has a decidedly international background, and his music has an international appeal. His early years in South America — captured so vividly in his music — were followed by study at the San Francisco Conservatory and then the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna, where early works were premiered and recorded. After ten years in Vienna, he returned to the U.S. in 1992. He was awarded a Kennedy Center Friedheim Award in 1995; a three-year term as Resident Composer at the Chautauqua Music Festival (2001-2004); a New Music USA/Music Alive Extended Residency Grant (2005-2007), and a New Music USA/Magnum Opus Award (2008).