Angélica Negrón (1981–present) is élicaNegróa Puerto-Rican composer and multi-instrumentalist recognized for composing music for accordions, robotic instruments, toys, and electronics as well as for chamber ensembles, orchestras, choirs, and films. Angélica is a founding member of the electronic indie band Balún where she sings and plays the accordion. She is currently based in Brooklyn, New York where she is a teaching artist for New York Philharmonic's Very Young Composers program and Lincoln Center Education.
She grew up in San Juan where she received her early education in piano and violin at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. Caribbean influences can be heard in her work, most notably in Balún, the indie dream-pop band she founded.
Angélica is currently an artist in residence at National Sawdust working on a lip sync opera titled Chimera for drag queen performers and chamber ensemble exploring the ideas of fantasy and illusion as well as the intricacies of identity.
Life
Angélica Negrón is a Puerto Rican native, born in San Juan, who lives in Brooklyn, New York. As a child, Negrón studied piano and violin at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. She earned her master's degree at New York University and is working on her doctoral degree in music composition at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York as of 2016. She educates at New York Philharmonic's Very Young Composers Program, Lincoln Center Education, The Little Orchestra Society, and co-founded the Spanish immersion music program for young children. Negrón was selected for a Van Lier Fellowship Program in 2014-2015 and a New York Foundation for the Arts Artist Fellowship in 2016.
Negrón composed pieces for various art forms and entertainment including Memories of a Penitent Heart and Los Condenados. She has been featured in concerts and music festivals including the “Ecstatic Music Festival 2012," MATA Festival 2011, and Bang on a Can Summer Festival 2011. Her collection of instruments began with a Strawberry Shortcake music box, and has expanded with the addition of bells, trumpet, voice box, and whistles. She performs with Balún, an electro-acoustic pop band, and her chamber ensemble, Arturo en el barco. Negrón's music is published by Good Child Music.
Education
Angélica received an early education in piano and violin at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico where she later studied composition under the guidance of composer Alfonso Fuentes. She holds a master's degree in music composition from New York University where she studied with Pedro da Silva. She pursued doctoral studies at the CUNY Graduate Center, where she studied composition with Tania León. Her dissertation focused on the work of Meredith Monk. Also active as an educator, Angélica is currently a teaching artist for New York Philharmonic's Very Young Composers program and Lincoln Center Education. Additionally, she co-founded the Spanish immersion music program for young children Acopladitos with Noraliz Ruiz.
Career
Negrón has been commissioned by the Albany Symphony, Bang on a Can All-Stars, A Far Cry, MATA Festival, loadbang, The Playground Ensemble, the American Composers Orchestra, Kronos Quartet, Prototype Festival, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Sō Percussion, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, the Louisville Orchestra and the New York Botanical Garden.
She has collaborated with many artists such as Lido Pimienta, Mathew Placek, Sasha Velour, Cecilia Aldarondo, Mariela Pabón, Adrienne Westwood, Sō Percussion, The Knights, Face the Music and NOVUS NY.
Her music has been performed at the Kennedy Center, the Ecstatic Music Festival, EMPAC, Bang on a Can Marathon and the 2016 New York Philharmonic Biennial. Her film scores have been heard numerous times at the Tribeca Film Festival. Her music has been performed by TRANSIT Ensemble, Choral Chameleon, janus trio, Cadillac Moon Ensemble, Cantori NY, Face the Music, Iktus Percussion Quartet, ETHEL, NYU Symphony Orchestra, Montpelier Chamber Orchestra, Springfield-Drury Civic Orchestra and the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, among others. She has written music for documentaries, films, theater and modern dance. She frequently collaborates with the experimental theater company Y No Había Luz from Puerto Rico, writing music for their plays, which often incorporate puppets, masks and unusual objects.
Upcoming premieres include works for the Seattle Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic Project 19 initiative and multiple performances at Big Ears Festival 2022. Negrón continues to perform and compose for film.
Balún (2003–Present)