Biography
Hugo Antonio Miranda is a Mexican American composer who’s earned several awards for his music. He got his undergraduate degree in music composition from Rutgers University and is now working on his Master’s at Temple University. Over the years, he’s had the chance to study with well-known composers like Robert Aldridge, Melissa Dunphy, Matthew Greenbaum, Jan Krzywicki, Erin Busch, William Dougherty and Mark Zaki. Recently, he’s teamed up with award-winning singer Madison McIntosh, who won the 2020 American Prize in Vocal Performance, for a new project. In 2023, he was commissioned to write an oratorio based on Luke 15, called The Prodigal Son.
Hugo’s love for music started when he was young, and he spent years studying piano at the National Conservatory of Music of Mexico under pianist Alfredo Isaac Aguilar before moving to the USA with his family in 2016. He has also taken piano lessons with pianist Clipper Erickson and master classes with pianist Naoya Seino.
Back in 2014, he placed 4th in the Golden Key International Piano Composition Competition and performed at the winner’s recital in Vienna’s Ehrbar Hall his piece Dancing FLowers. He also received an honorable mention at the IBLA Grand Prize for piano composition that same year. In 2018, he won 3rd place in the Golden Key National Piano Composition Competition, and in 2022, he won 1st prize in the Caneres International Music Competition Vienna, September edition for his orchestra piece Symphonic Madness. His music has been performed in the USA, Austria, and Mexico.
Hugo believes music has the power to drive change and bring attention to important social issues. One of his pieces, Vaquita, focuses on the world’s smallest porpoise, which is on the verge of extinction. Through this composition, Hugo raises awareness about how human actions have contributed to the Vaquita’s decline and calls for a shift in how we treat the environment.
Hugo has also written music centered on mental health, drawing from his own experiences. Through these compositions, he aims to highlight the daily challenges and prejudices that people with certain conditions face. By pushing for more understanding, Hugo hopes to help break the stigma surrounding both mental illness and neurodivergence.
On top of composing, Hugo teaches piano at a small music academy in New Jersey. His teaching style focuses on empathy and compassion, knowing that every student is unique. He tailors his lessons to fit each student’s needs and believes that learning an instrument can be life-changing, offering a powerful outlet for mental health and self-expression.