Hector Armienta Biography

COMPOSER

Hector Armienta is a nationally recognized Mexican American composer, whose work primarily explores the Latino cultural experience. His commissions include those from Opera Pacific, the Pacific Symphony, the Oakland East Bay Symphony, and the Western Stage to name a few. His work has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts (three NEA grants in artistic excellence), Meet the Composer, the Haas Foundation, the San Francisco Arts Commission and others.

Currently, he is developing his most ambitious project, a music theater trilogy Aguas Ancestrales/Ancient Waters. The trilogy is based on and inspired by the life of his grandmother, Paula Lopez. The second installment of that trilogy, River of Women/Rio De Mujeres has had three productions so far. Llorona/The Weeping Woman – A Musical Drama, part one of the trilogy, received its world premiere in October 2008 and had its off off Broadway premiere at Latea Theater in January of 2012. He is now embarking on completing the final installment, La Muerte/Death - a full length opera.

EDUCATOR AND RESIDENT ARTIST

Mr. Armienta has been an artist in residence and/or teaching artist for several organizations such Pacific Symphony, Opera Pacific, San Francisco Opera, and others. As part of his mission to provide educational opportunities to young people, he oversees the Opera Cultura Summer Conservatory program and serves as a teaching artist for San Francisco Opera. He also maintains a private piano and composition studio.

UPCOMING PROJECTS

Upcoming projects include the San Jose premiere of La Llorona in fall of 2012 at the School of Arts and Culture @ MHP, the Summer Conservatory Program, and a 2014 production of La Llorona in NYC.

Mr. Armienta holds a bachelor of music degree from California Institute of the Arts and under the tutelage of Maestro Conrad Susa, received a Masters in Music Composition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.