Carlos Bandera is a composer whose music is characterized by a glacial unfolding of sonic landscapes. He often expands simple elements into large-scale musical structures, through which he explores the interplay of harmony, noise, and texture.
Bandera’s orchestral work Materia Prima, premiered in 2023 at Carnegie Hall by the American Composers Orchestra, was described by the New York Classical Review as having “one of the most immersive and elegant transitions from nothingness to complexity that one has heard.” His music has been performed by groups such as the Albany Symphony, the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Dogs of Desire, Hotel Elefant, Earspace, Hebrides Ensemble, Nebula Ensemble, Omnibus Ensemble, and Now Hear This. Bandera’s piece Lux in Tenebris was performed by the American Composers Orchestra at the 2018 Underwood New Music Readings. He has attended Composers Conference, Copland House’s CULTIVATE program, the Delian Academy for New Music, and Time of Music (Musiikin aika). Recently, his piece Meristem was performed by the Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra during their “On the Road” tour across South East England.
Bandera holds a Master of Music degree from Peabody Conservatory and a Bachelor of Music degree from Montclair State University. He is currently based in Chicago where he is pursuing his PhD in Composition and Music Technology at Northwestern University.
