Biography
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Reinaldo Moya composes at the border between worlds. His music finds its restless home in the passage between the formal structures of classical music and the rhythms, contradictions, and vibrancy of modern Latin America. A 2026 Guggenheim Fellow and recipient of the Charles Ives Fellowship, two McKnight Fellowships, and the Aaron Copland Award, Moya is "a composer who has much to say about the human condition in the 21st century and should be listened to often." (Bangor Daily News)
In 2025, the Washington Post named the premiere of his clarinet quartet I Will Dance, and Dance With You one of the Best Classical Concerts of the Year, praising a work in which "themes turn into memories and come rushing back." His Piano Concerto, premiered by Joyce Yang with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, was subsequently performed by the San Diego Symphony under Rafael Payare.
His orchestral works have been performed by the Minnesota Orchestra, the Juilliard Orchestra, the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, and the New Jersey Symphony, led by conductors including Osmo Vänskä, JoAnn Falletta, and Carlos Miguel Prieto. His chamber music has been taken up by ensembles including the Attacca Quartet and the Jasper Quartet, and the Da Capo Chamber Players.
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Moya served as Composer-in-Residence for the Chicago Philharmonic (2021–24), premiering orchestral works including Polo Romanesco and Rise for cello and orchestra (with soloist Joshua Roman). His work Guayoyo Sketches was commissioned by Alisa Weilerstein for her Fragments project, performed at Carnegie Hall, Severance Hall, and the Spoleto Festival USA. His operas Tienda (libretto by Caitlin Vincent), commissioned by the Schubert Club, and Memory Boy (libretto by Mark Campbell), commissioned by the Minnesota Opera, have been praised for music that "movingly evoked all that can't be left behind when a person quits one country for the hope of a better future in another." (Star Tribune) His song Las palmeras was included on Laura Strickling's Grammy-nominated album 40@40.
Moya holds a Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music from The Juilliard School, where he studied with Samuel Adler and Robert Beaser, and a Bachelor of Music from West Virginia University, where he studied with John Beall. He has taught at Augsburg University, St. Olaf College, and the Interlochen Arts Camp. He was selected from over 350 applicants as the inaugural recipient of the Ellis-Beauregard Foundation Composer Award. He has served as Associate Professor of Music at Wellesley College since 2023, having previously been on the faculty at Augsburg University and St. Olaf College.
Short Bio
Reinaldo Moya is a 2026 Guggenheim Fellow and composer whose music explores identity, memory, and migration. From his early training in Venezuela's El Sistema to performances at Carnegie Hall, Severance Hall, and the Kennedy Center, his work bridges classical tradition with the rhythms and complexity of modern Latin America.
In 2025, the Washington Post named the premiere of his clarinet quartet I Will Dance, and Dance With You one of the Best Classical Concerts of the Year, praising his "profound understanding of grief." His Piano Concerto, premiered by Joyce Yang and subsequently performed by the San Diego Symphony under Rafael Payare, has received wide acclaim. His operas Tienda and Memory Boy, commissioned by the Schubert Club and the Minnesota Opera, have been praised for their vivid human characterizations and emotional depth. His work Guayoyo Sketches was commissioned by Alisa Weilerstein for her Fragments project. His song Las palmeras was included on Laura Strickling's Grammy-nominated album 40@40.
Moya has served as Composer-in-Residence for the Chicago Philharmonic and collaborated with ensembles including the Minnesota Orchestra, the Juilliard Orchestra, and the Attacca Quartet. A graduate of The Juilliard School and recipient of the Charles Ives Fellowship, the Aaron Copland Award, and two McKnight Fellowships, he is Associate Professor of Music at Wellesley College.
