Reinaldo Moya

Biography

Reinaldo Moya is a composer from Caracas, Venezuela. He was a member of El Sistema, which is a music education program that offers a musical experience to people of all ages and socioeconomic statuses in Venezuela. Being part of this program allowed him to play with Venezuela's Children's Orchestra, as well as to tour with the Simon Bolivar Orchestra. In 1999, he emigrated to Maryland with his family, where he finished his high school education. He then received his Bachelor in Music from West Virginia University and he completed his master's and doctoral degree at The Juilliard School. He has received several fellowships such as the Charles Ives Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Letter, the 2015 McKnight Composers Fellowship, the Van Lier Fellowship from Meet the Composer, and the Aaron Copland Award from the Copland House. His chamber opera Tienda was applauded by the Star Tribune for its "proud individuality... [and] textures of pulsing vibrancy, subtly shading harmonies to trace the fragile emotional arc of his central characters." He has taught at St. Olaf College and Interlochen Arts Camp and is currently an Assistant Professor of Composition at Augsburg University in Minneapolis.

"We make art because we want to communicate...if the only people who are allowed to sing my music are other Latinos, we’re missing out on the most powerful thing that performers can do...it’s about being able to experience life through other people’s experiences."

-Reinaldo Moya

Takeways

Music can be a big help when experiencing a change in our lives. When Dr. Moya immigrated to the US, music helped him with that transition. This was because even though everything in his life was different, "orchestra was the same." In the words of Reinaldo, "it didn’t matter if I didn't understand English at that point or if my English was not where I needed it to be, I could just pick up my violin and play alongside everybody else and that made me feel a sense of belonging."
One of the main barriers composers of color experience is to know if their music is being programmed because it is liked or just to fulfill the diversity requirement.
No matter how you culturally identify yourself, music is for everyone! However, it is important to research before playing a piece by a composer of color.

Music by Dr. Moya

Generalissimo

Minnesota Suite for Chamber Orchestra

For more information we encourage you to explore Reinaldo Moya's website here.

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