Mariela Paz

I am a Chilean composer who, from an early age, received piano lessons and, later, accordion lessons. I studied at the Metropolitan University of Educational Sciences in Santiago, Chile. Later, I studied composition at the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso, Chile, and subsequently Composition for Symphonic Band and Symphonic Orchestra at the Integral Composition Center in Mexico.

 

My musical career includes performances as an accordionist in the Folkloric Ballet and as a pianist in the student chamber orchestra of the University of Santiago,Chile (Usach). I have also worked as the musical director and accordionist of the chamber group Canela Trio (violin, double bass, and accordion).

 

I have premiered:

- "El Canto de Teresa" (2014), a work dedicated to Chilean writer Teresa Wilms Montt, written for string ensemble, clarinet, theater, and dance at the Cousiño Theater, Valparaíso, Chile;

- "A Kaneko Misuzu" (2020), a work dedicated to Japanese poet Kaneko Misuzu, written for string trio and accordion (Winner of a Chilean government grant);

- "Octubre 4" (2021), for solo viola, at the IV Music Festival of Elqui, La Serena, Chile;

- "Sur del Mundo", performed by the Army Symphonic Band (Teatro Oriente 2023) and in Mexico by the National University of Mexico's Symphonic Band together with Dartmouth University's Symphonic Band (USA);

- "Chachachi" (2024), recently awarded the V International Composition Competition for Symphonic Bands by WASBE (World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles) in 2024, which led to traveling to South Korea to work with the Singapore Symphonic Band;

- "A Gabriela Mistral" , premiered on August 28, 2024, and performed by the Chamber Orchestra of the Municipal Theater of Santiago, Chile. Dedicated to the Chilean Nobel laureate in literature, Gabriela Mistral,(1889-1957).