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José-Luis Hurtado, 2026 Rohlen Visiting Artist
February 17–18
The School of Music is pleased to welcome Mexican-born American composer, pianist, and visual artist José-Luis Hurtado as a 2026 Rohlen Visiting Artist. A recipient of the 2020 John Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship, Hurtado is an internationally recognized composer whose music has been performed across the Americas and Europe by leading ensembles including the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, JACK Quartet, International Contemporary Ensemble, Juilliard Ensemble, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico.
During his campus residency, Hurtado will present a series of public events highlighting his creative work and artistic trajectory:
Roundtable Career Q&A
Tuesday, February 17 / 11:00 AM
Music Building, Room 0359
Composers Forum Presentation
Tuesday, February 17 / 4:00 PM
Music Building, Room 0359
Recital & Presentation of His Work
Tuesday, February 17 / 7:30 PM
Smith Recital Hall
Performance of The Untitled L
Illinois Modern Ensemble Concert
Wednesday, February 18 / 7:30 PM
Colwell Playhouse, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
Hurtado’s work has earned numerous international honors, including the Kompositonspreis der Stadt Wolkersdorf (Austria), the Harvard University Green Prize for Excellence in Composition, the Rodolfo Halffter Ibero-American Composition Prize, and the Adelbert W. Sprague Prize. He was recently named to Mexico’s prestigious Sistema Nacional de Creadores de Arte, recognizing his distinguished artistic trajectory.
In addition to his work as a composer, Hurtado is an active pianist and advocate for contemporary music. He performs with the Low Frequency Trio, is a founding member of áltaVoz (a U.S.-based collaborative of Latin American composers), and previously directed The Harvard Group for New Music. As a visual artist, he has exhibited in galleries throughout the United States and Mexico. He currently serves as Full Professor of Theory and Composition at the University of New Mexico, where he directs the Music from the Americas Concert Series and the New Music New Mexico Contemporary Ensemble.
Join us for this exciting opportunity to engage with one of today’s leading voices in contemporary music. Students, faculty, and community members are warmly encouraged to attend.
In collaboration with Ben Roidl-Ward, the Illinois Modern Ensemble, and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS).
More information can be found here. For further info, contact broidlwa@illinois.edu.
Bio:
Winner of a 2020 John Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship, Mexican-born American composer José-Luis Hurtado’s music has been performed across continents by ensembles and soloists such as the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, JACK Quartet, International Contemporary Ensemble, Talea Ensemble, Juilliard Ensemble, National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico, Stephen Drury, Claire Chase, and the Arditti String Quartet. He has been the recipient of the Kompositonspreis der Stadt Wolkersdorf (Austria), the Harvard University Green Prize for Excellence in Composition (USA), the Rodolfo Halaer Ibero-American Composition Prize, and the Adelbert W. Sprague Prize (USA). He has just been named a member of the prestigious Sistema Nacional de Creadores de Arte grant in recognition of a distinguished artistic trajectory. The SNCA is a government supported program that converges the most renowned artists of Mexico, including writers, visual artists, dancers, film makers, and composers.
In addition to his compositional career, Hurtado is highly active as a pianist and music advocate. He is the pianist of Low Frequency Trio (Contemporary Bass clarinet, double bass, and piano ensemble), founding member of áltaVoz (Latin-American composers collaborative in the U.S), and former director of The Harvard Group for New Music. Also active as a visual artist, he has exhibited his work in galleries throughout the United States and Mexico.
Hurtado holds degrees in piano performance and composition from Conservatorio de las Rosas (Morelia, Mexico), a Master of Music in Composition from Universidad Veracruzana (Xalapa, Mexico) and a Ph.D. from Harvard University where he studied under Mario Davidovsky, Chaya Czernowin, Magnus Lindberg, Brian Ferneyhough and Helmut Lachenmann. Hurtado is currently Full Professor of Theory and Composition at the University of New Mexico where he also founded, directs, and curates the Music from the Americas Concert Series, and directs the New Music New Mexico Contemporary Ensemble.
