In this week’s playlist, we feature Mexican Compoers, Juan Pablo Contreras! He is a Latin GRAMMY®-nominated composer who combines Western classical and Mexican folk music in a single soundscape. He is the winner of the 2023 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Music and is celebrated as the first Mexican-born composer to sign a record deal with Universal Music, serve as Sound Investment Composer with Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and win the BMI William Schuman Prize.

My Music. My Story. is one of Classical Music Indy’s initiatives to feature music, musicians, and music lovers in a fun way. In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we spoke with a regular Classical Music Indy performer, John Alvarado. He is the President of the Indianapolis Society of the Classical Guitar and a Senior Lecturer for the Department of Music and Arts Technology at IUPUI. John remarks about his own upbringing, how his study of Latino culture has influenced his work, and gives insight on how music, culture, and community are all intertwined.

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we had Samantha Stutsman, author for Indianapolis Monthly, speak with composer Jorge Martín, and pianist Eugenio Urrutia Borlando about how their heritage has influenced them both professionally and personally.