Yalil Guerra

Yalil Guerra was born in Havana, Cuba, April 27, 1973. The son of the famous Cuban vocal duo Rosell y Cary. His first musical studies were at the National School of Music (ENA) in Havana, Cuba (1985–1991) with classical guitar professor and concert master Jorge Luis Zamora.

At the age of 16, Guerra won the International Competition & Festival of Classical Guitar in Krakow, Poland, as well as the Special Prize (1990). Making a tour the following year for different Poland cities. He thus became the youngest Cuban awarded a prize in an international competition. He graduated as a Classical Guitar performer and Professor in 1991.

He studied two years at the “Instituto Superior de Música” (I.S.A.) and studied classical guitar with Jesús Ortega, Joaquin Clerch and Efraín Amador. Then he moved to Spain, and obtained his Master Degree in Classical Guitar at the Royal Conservatory of Music “Queen Sofía” in Madrid, Spain with professor and concert master Gabriel Estarellas. Also he graduated from Counterpoint and fuge (1994–1998) with professors Daniel Vega and Mercedes Padilla Valencia. He received composition classes with composer and professor Aurelio de la Vega, Emeritus professor of the Cal State University, Northridge, California.

He started his career as a producer, composer and arranger in 1990 and has worked with many industry companies and professionals.

Nowadays he writes music for US TV networks such as Univision, Telefutura and Canal 41 Miami; the music of shows such as: FIFA World Cup music theme 2010, Viva el Sueño (2009), the Latin Grammy Awards (2005 through 2009) [1], Premio lo Nuestro (2006 through 2010), Up front (2005 and 2006), Escándalo TV, Tributo a nuestra música, Premios Juventud, etc. are among his credits. He is producing and composing albums in his recording facility for artist such us Yamila Guerra and Rosell y Cary, in Burbank in California.

Mr. Guerra, have compositions for chamber ensembles, choral works and for solo instrument. His classical works has been premiered in the United States, Canada, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia and Puerto Rico.

In 2010, Guerra was awarded Runner-up by the Brandon Fradd Fellowship in music composition sponsored by the Cintas Foundation and the Frost Art Museum of Florida International University 2010. [2] [3] Four awarded compositions have been included on his new album entitled “Old Havana” available at cdbaby.com. [4] For more information visit the News section.

This year, Guerra was nominated by the Latin Recording Academy in the Best Classical Album category, with his first album “OLD HAVANA” Chamber Music Vol. I. [5][6] Latin Grammy Awards of 2010#Classical Field

WORKS:

. Sofia for Guitar (2007). This composition was premiered at the Boston Court of Pasadena, March 7th, 2011 [7]. Included in the composer's 2011 album "Old Havana Chamber Music Vol. II" [8] [9]. First recording by the composer.

. Suite Cubana (2008). World Premiered by musicians of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra at the Art exposition "Cuba, Art and History from 1868 to today", March 21, 2008 at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, in Montreal, Canada. [10] Watch the World Premiere: I movement "Aire de Son" [11], II movement "Aire de Cha-cha chá" [12], III movement "Punto Guajiro" [13], IV movement "Afro-Bolero-Rumba". [14]

. Clave for Strings and Percussion (2008). Work for String Orchestra and Cuban percussion.

. A la Antigua (2008). For String Orchestra. Included in the album "Old Havana" Chamber Music Vol. I [15]. Conducted by Natacha Prado. First violins: Desirée Justo and Augusto Diago. Second violins: Jessie de Armas and Yasney Rojano. Violas: Idalmis Ulloa and Roberto Herrera. Cellos: Alejandro Rodríguez and Salomé Pérez. Basses: Michel Toll and Francisco Valdez Pachi. Recorded by Mikel Barzagas. Mixed and mastered at RYCY Productions Inc. by Yalil Guerra. World Premiere by the Corpus Christi Symphony, Texas at the concert "Viva las Americas", November 11, 2010.[16] [17] Watch the music video [18].

. De Congo y Carabalí (2009). For Flute, Clarinet and Bassoon. Recorded in the album "Old Havana" Chamber Music Vol. I. Katisse Buckingham (flute), John Tegmeyer (clarinet) and Ben Wendel (basson). Recorded, mixed and mastered at RYCY Productions Inc. by Yalil Guerra (2008).

. Old Havana (2009). For String Orchestra. Included in the album "Old Havana" Chamber Music Vol. I. Performed by Ensamble Solistas de la Habana. Recorded July, 2009. Conducted by Ivan Valiente. First violins: Mónica Betancourt (concertino), Ivon Rubio Padron and Alyoth Marichal Vastillo. Second violins: Juan Manuel Vásquez Pérez, Carmen María Vásquez Pérez and Alejandro Menéndez Suarez. Viola: Winnie Magaña Soler and Anolan González Rodríguez. Cello: Elis Regina Ramos and Isabel Cristina Pall. Basses: Susana Rivero Cangas. Recorded by Mikel Barzagas. Mixed and mastered at RYCY Productions Inc. by Yalil Guerra. Watch the music video. [19]

. Aché for Flute and Cello (2009). For flute and cello. Premiered in Quito, Ecuador at the XIX International Flute Festival by flutist Lisette Pérez and cellist Gerhard Gerais. View the press release and photo gallery of the premiere. [20] Premiered in the United States by Rachel Woolf (flute) and Bryan West (cello) in a concert organized by Synchromy [21]. Recorded by Lisette Pérez (flute) and Alejandro Rodríguez (cello). Included in the composer's 2011 album "Old Havana Chamber Music Vol. II" [22] [23].

. ¿Donde está mi negro bembón? (2009). For mixed choir. Included in the album "Old Havana" Chamber Music Vol. I. Conducted by Natacha Prado. Sopranos: Oderay Ortega and Nelia Molina. Contraltos: Claudia Aquino and Niurka Avila Leyva. Tenors: Abel Maceo and José Oniel. Basses: Arnoldo Rodríguez and Leonardo Amado Sarria. Recorded Engineer: Mikel Barzagas. Mixed and mastered at RYCY Productions Inc. by Yalil Guerra. [24]

. Suite El Batey for Piano, in six movements (2009). Premiered by pianist Elizabeth Rebozo, November 7, 2009 in Calgary, Canada. [25] Recorded by the artist in her album "One Culture, two visions" Cuban piano music from the XIX and XXI Century. [26] Watch the music videos of the Suite: 1. El Tostao. [27] 2. El Dulcero. [28] 3. El Wititio Dormio. [29] 4. El Saltarin. [30] 5. La Criollita. [31] 6. El Babalao. [32] (2009). Included in the composer's 2011 album "Old Havana Chamber Music Vol. II" [33] [34].

. Seducción for Piano (2009). World Premiere by pianist Elizabeth Rebozo, November 7, 2009 in Calgary, Canada. [35] Recorded by the artist in her album "One Culture, two visions" Cuban piano music from the XIX and XXI Century. [36] [37]. Included in the composer's 2011 album "Old Havana Chamber Music Vol. II" [38] [39].

. "A Mil Guerras Solo", String Quartet 1 (2009). Premiered in February 19th, 2011 by the "Cuarteto de Cuerdas de la Habana" at the San Nicolas Church (Göttingen University), Göttingen, Germany. [40]

. Son para Ana for Harp (2009).

. Amazona Express for Guitar (2009). World Premiered by guitarist Ileana Matos at the concert "Divertimentos Tropicales", July 2, 2009 in Parma, Italy. [41], Pan American premiere by Miguel Bonachea [42] Premiered in the United States of America by guitarist Gerardo Perez Capdevila [43], Spain premiere by Ileana Matos. [44]

. La Guajira Natural (2009). For Soprano and Guitar.

. La Rumba for Clarinet and String Quartet. (2009) Premiered by Orquesta de Baja California, Tijuana, Mexico. [45] [46] Score and parts available at independentmusiccomposers.com. Included in the composer's 2011 album "Old Havana Chamber Music Vol. II" [47] [48].

. Carnaval for Brass Quintet (2009). Included in the album "Old Havana" Chamber Music Vol. I. [49] [50] Michael McGuffey (Lead Trumpet), Marissa Benedict (second Trumpet), Steven Durnin (French Horn), Brad Close (Trombone), Freed Greene (Tuba), conducted by Francisco Castillo.

. Guajira Blues for Oboe, Violin, Viola and Cello. (2009) World premiere at the "Old Mill" in San Marino, California by musicians of the California Philharmonic Orchestra. [51] Francsico Castillo (Oboe), Pavel Farkas (Violin), Diane Gilbert (Viola), Pamela de Almeida (Cello) [52]. First recorded in the composer's 2011 album "Old Havana Chamber Music Vol. II". The musicians that participated in the recording are: Francisco Castillo (oboe), Pavel Farkas (violin), Nancy Roth (viola) and Kevan Torfeh (cello).

. In Bellum Primum for Flute and Piano (2009). Work dedicated to the great pianist Martha Marchena. The piece was premiered by Marchena and Lisa Hansen at the concert "Latin American Mosaic" December 9, 2010 at the Enlow Recital Hall, Kean University, New Jersey . View the program of the concert [53]. A recording of Marchena is in production now. This work was Included in the composer's 2011 album "Old Havana Chamber Music Vol. II", recorded by the flutist Salpy Kerkonian and the pianist Bryan Pezzone. [54] [55]

. Terra Ignota for String Orchestra (2009). For String Orchestra.

. Ab Imo Pectore "Con todo mi corazón" (2010). Premiered by the B3: Brouwer Trio at the Nous Sons' 10 festival, at L'Auditori of Barcelona, March 13, 2010. [56] [57] [58] Premiere in the United States in a concert organized by the National Composers Association USA (NACUSA) January 23rd, 2011. Lorenza Gamma (violin), David Speltz (cello) and Brian Pezzoni (piano) [59] Recorded by the B3: Brouwer Trio in the 2011 album "The Beautiful Cuban Woman", produced by Yalil Guerra. [60] [61]. This composition was also included in the composer's 2011 album "Old Havana Chamber Music Vol. II". [62] [63]

. Ciclo de Canciones for Soprano and Piano (5), (2010)

. Tres Piezas Cubanas para piano. 1. Echale Salsita. 2. Rosa Frívola. 3. Zapateado.