César Alejandro Carrillo’s choral compositions blend emotion, craftsmanship, and universal beauty. As he prepares for Venezuela Viva on May 16, 2025, he reflects on his journey, creative process, and lifelong dedication to shaping the global choral landscape.

As part of the concert Our Voices Together: Corazones al Unísono. Performed against a filmed, kaleidoscopic background of visual arts. The concert featured 3 pieces of music created for the UCC and Cantemos through commissions and collaborations. This international arts collaboration project featured a shadow puppet theatre production from Barcelona, Spain; an illustration from Toronto, Canada; and a dance performance from Boston, USA.

When Laura Morales Balza was asked to write the lyrics for Cantemos, she considered it a gift. The Bird I Await is a prayer of grief, hope, daydreaming, infinite certainty, and strength. It is a contemplation of nature, through the universal song of a bird.

I came to Canada in the fall of 2007 with my wife and two daughters. We landed in Toronto with big hopes for a better future. Little I knew how important singing was for me.

Cantemos’ 10th anniversary commission, La Rosa de los Vientos. Music by César Alejandro Carrillo based on a poem by Jacinto Salcedo