Composer Juan Pablo Contreras
Our season-opening program on November 8 features Juan Pablo Contreras’ La Silla. This is the Band’s inaugural performance of La Silla and the first time NCB has performed Mr. Contreras’ work.
Mr. Contreras says of this work:
La Silla is a concert fanfare and hymn that I wrote for an international equestrian competition that takes place every year in Monterrey, Mexico, where horses and riders compete in show jumping. I wanted to write something epic, almost in the style of John Williams, but with a very Mexican heart. And this is the result! The piece is built around two main musical ideas: a very energetic and exciting fanfare, and a lyrical, expressive hymn. These two contrasting ideas are the driving forces behind the piece, and they come together to create a musical celebration of the spirit and excitement of this competition.
Juan Pablo Contreras is a three-time Latin GRAMMY®-nominated composer and conductor who masterfully weaves Western classical and Mexican folk music into an exhilarating soundscape.
His music has been performed by 60 major orchestras across the United States, Mexico, Austria, Slovakia, Colombia, Spain, Argentina, and Venezuela, as well as in prestigious concert halls such as Walt Disney Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Hollywood Bowl. He is renowned as the first Mexican-born composer to sign a record deal with Universal Music, to serve as Sound Investment Composer for Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and to win the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise.
Go behind the music with Mr. Contreras as he opens up about the challenges of composing, the sparks that ignite his inspiration, and his sage advice for the next generation of musicians.
When did you start composing, and what or who were your early passions and influences? I started composing when I was 16 years old. I grew up playing the violin, but as a teenager, I picked up the electric guitar and started playing in heavy metal bands in my hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico. One of those bands described its style as "symphonic metal," which meant that we wanted to incorporate orchestral arrangements into our songs. That brought me back to my interest in orchestral music, and I started learning how to write for the orchestra. In the process, I completely fell in love with orchestral music! I decided I wanted to become a film composer because, at the time, I thought that was the only way to make a living writing for orchestra. So, when I was 19, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue that dream. But once I got there, I discovered the world of contemporary concert music and realized that I could write my own orchestral music and tell my own stories, without needing a movie to accompany them. That's when I decided to pursue a career as a concert composer, and I've never looked back!
What would you consider the most challenging aspect of composing music? For me, the most challenging part of composing is usually coming up with that initial idea. I love telling stories through my music, so figuring out what story I want to tell and what the musical DNA of that story will be is often the hardest part. But once I have that initial spark of inspiration, everything becomes really exciting! I love taking a simple musical idea, exploring all its possibilities, and gradually transforming it into a complete piece of music.
What's your view on the role of composers today? I believe the role of composers today is to be a mirror of our society, telling stories that are relevant to our lives and to the world around us. I also think it's important to remind audiences that classical music is very much alive! Wind ensemble music is an incredibly exciting and important genre, and there are so many living composers who are passionate about telling new stories through this medium. Ultimately, I hope that our music helps people connect with one another and reminds them that experiencing live music is still one of the most exciting and meaningful forms of entertainment in the world.
What is on your Spotify playlist or in your music library? My Spotify playlist is a pretty eclectic mix! There's a lot of children's music because I have a four-year-old son, classical music by living composers like Kevin Puts and Mason Bates, and plenty of progressive metal from bands like Dream Theater and Symphony X. I'm still a huge fan of progressive metal, especially when I'm working out at the gym. So, depending on the time of day, you might find me listening to a beautiful orchestral piece, a heavy guitar solo, or a children's song that's been stuck in my head for days!
Which composer/musician – past or present – would you most like to meet for a coffee and why? I would love to have coffee with Manuel M. Ponce, one of the pioneers of Mexican musical nationalism, who was active during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was among the first Mexican composers to explore how traditional Mexican folk music could be incorporated into classical concert music, and in many ways, he helped pave the way for composers like me. Since blending Mexican musical traditions with the symphony orchestra is such an important part of my own musical identity, I would love to sit down with him and hear about his creative process, his inspirations, and how he approached bringing these two musical worlds together.
What inspires you? I'm constantly inspired by the world around me: the books I read, the movies I watch, and especially the music I listen to. I find that some of my best ideas come from listening to lots of music and attending live concerts. Sometimes I'll hear something that really excites me and think, "What if I took that idea and made it my own?" And then, a few months later, I might end up with a completely new piece that sounds very much like me, even though that initial spark came from something entirely different. I think that's one of the most exciting things about being a composer: inspiration can come from anywhere, and the creative process is all about transforming those influences into something uniquely your own.
What do you do to relax? I love exercising, especially going to the gym and practicing yoga. Those are two of my favorite ways to unwind and clear my mind. And lately, I've developed a newfound appreciation for sleep! I have two sons, a four-year-old and a newborn, so whenever I get the chance to catch up on some sleep, that's definitely my favorite way to relax!
Do you have any advice for young musicians? My biggest piece of advice is simple: Be yourself! Don't try to impress your teachers or colleagues by becoming the musician you think they want you to be. There are already plenty of people doing that, but there's only one of you! The more authentic you are to your own interests, your musical tastes, and the stories you want to tell, the more people will connect with your music. I truly believe that audiences can sense honesty and authenticity. And the more you embrace what makes you unique, the more distinctive and meaningful your music-making will become.
Please share any thoughts that you may have about the Northshore Concert Band. I'm incredibly excited about my first collaboration with the Northshore Concert Band, and truly honored that they've chosen to perform La Silla! I'm especially looking forward to hearing how the band brings this music to life, and to seeing how audiences respond to the musical world I'm creating, where Mexican musical traditions meet the power and excitement of the wind symphony. I hope the audience has as much fun listening to the piece as I had writing it!
Please add anything else that you would like our audience to know about you. Thank you so much for taking the time to learn a little more about me and the inspiration behind my music! I hope that hearing about my creative process helps you connect with La Silla on a deeper level, and perhaps inspires you to explore more music by living composers. There are so many of us out there creating new music that is timely, relevant, and exciting, and we're doing it for audiences just like you! Thank you for supporting live music, and I hope you enjoy the concert!
A special thank you to Juan Pablo Contreras for speaking with us and giving permission to reproduce this material. Please visit his website juanpablocontreras.com to learn more about him and his work.
MEMORY & MOTION
Sunday, November 8, 2026, 3:00 p.m. Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, Evanston, Illinois
Learn more about the Northshore Concert Band at northshoreband.org
Follow this blog to receive more informative and engaging interviews.