A voice and percussion duo that amplifies Latinx voices through music.
ARTIST STATEMENT | DECLARACIÓN ARTÍSTICA |
ARTIST STATEMENT | DECLARACIÓN ARTÍSTICA |
We celebrate and investigate complex Latinx identity from the New World because we are each our own thing.
We focus on the American Latinx experience because that is who we are.
We love Spanish, English, bilingual and Spanglish language exploration because that is the language that we speak.
We amplify our collective artistic voice and champion our community.
We celebrate ourselves because we exist.
We connect to others like us.
We find a place amongst the displaced.
We do all this because it’s meaningful.
We do all this because we love.
We do all this because it’s fun!
ABOUT THE DUO
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SOBRE EL DÚO
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ABOUT THE DUO | SOBRE EL DÚO |
We are a Latin American duo that was founded in 2022, with a vision to celebrate and investigate complex Latin American identity through new and existing concert music repertoire. Our instrumentation is voice and percussion, frequently vibraphone, and will soon expand our through collaborations with other Latin artists of varied genres.
According to the US census as of 2023, there are over 63 million Latine in the U.S. As nearly 20% of the US population, we are the largest minority group and embody varied and complex cultural and ethnic identities that bring richness to their communities. Highlighting Latin composers in American concert repertoire is crucial because it celebrates the diversity and cultural contributions of the Latine community, enriching the musical landscape with unique perspectives and artistic expressions.
Highlighting Latin composers fosters inclusivity and representation, ensuring that the full spectrum of American identity and creativity is showcased and appreciated in the arts.
We are a bi-costal duo located in California and Massachusetts. Our home cities host significant Latin American Populations. Springfield, MA, where Aliana resides is the largest city in Western Mass. with a population demographic of 46% Latin American, and Ariel in Los Angeles, CA where the demographic is 49% Latin American.
The pandemic has taught us all that artists can collaborate from anywhere within the US and internationally. This duo was founded as a collaborative experiment utilizing both live and virtual performances to generate a distinctive repertoire by composers of the Latin diaspora.
Our inaugural project, the Latinx Composer Miniature Challenge (LCMC), began in the 2021-22 season as our inaugural project. It was halted after we premiered two miniature works, and was reignited in 2023 with funding from the Springfield Cultural Council.
The LCMC is an unusual and important virtual project and a sister project to the Black Composer Miniature Challenge by the ensemble Castle of Our Skins.
We challenge composers to submit completed scores of works that are 30 seconds in duration. We record them with high-quality video and audio to premiere online.
The 2022/23 LCMC yielded 7 submissions from Latin composers; this season, the 2024 LCMC, it increased to 13. Of those, we chose to perform 5 and publish 10 in a voice and vibraphone-themed anthology.
This project generates a distinctive repertoire of new music for performers at all levels and forms a catalog of Latinx composers for other musicians to find. Sharing this new repertoire of contemporary music celebrates current Latinx composers with musicians searching for representation in their chosen repertoire. We anticipate running the LCMC for two more seasons with increased interest and guest artists to offer more varied instrumentation.
Our 2022-2023 season launched in partnership with Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, CA to present a live concert of works by Latin composers and ending with all the LCMC premieres.
Our 2023-2024 season saw partnerships with the Haverhill Public Library (MA), the Community Music School of Springfield (MA), and the Philosophical Research Society (CA).
Our 2023-2024 season featured works by 18 Latin composers in total.
We are a sponsored project of Guerilla Opera, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
A Los Angeles based percussionist with a diverse musical background that spans from commercial music to classical. His performances with contemporary artists include Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Country Pop Duo “Brooks and Dunn” and Jennifer Lopez, and with Latin Jazz artists Louie Cruz-Beltran, Francisco Aguabella and Poncho Sanchez.
He was an original cast member of the Tony and Emmy award winning musical “Blast!,” which premiered in London.
As a solo classical percussionist Campos has been featured in solo concerts and recitals with the UCLA Philharmonia, California State University, Northridge Wind Ensemble, Union High School Percussion Ensemble in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Campos can also be heard as a featured musician on the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to the film “Bella.”
Aliana de la Guardia is an operatic soprano, nonprofit arts leader, dedicated mentor, and warrior for artistic misfits who champions new music that challenges conventions.
In addition to co-directing Bahué with percussionist Ariel Campos, she has been integral to Guerilla Opera’s leadership since 2007, steering the progressive ensemble artistically and organizationally through 40 new operas with roles tailor-made for her ferocious theatrical abilities. Her artistry has enchanted esteemed stages nationwide, premiering nearly 200 new works nationwide. She is a PARMA Recordings Artist, contributing to many commercial recordings on their various labels, as well as to BMOP Sound, and other independent labels.
This Latina arts leader is a passionate mentor who offers one-on-one mentorship, masterclasses, and lectures and participates in panels at institutions throughout the country. She helps artists step into their power and live their best creative lives through life, career, entrepreneurial, and voice coaching through her award-winning Dirty Paloma Studio. An accomplished voice teacher, she serves on the Community Music School of Springfield, MA faculty and at the Springfield Conservatory of the Arts. (alianadelaguardia.com)
