Congressional Chorus presents Chris Urquiaga’s “Dreams” as part of special concert
The Congressional Chorus performs a piece this weekend by one of the country's hottest up-and-coming composers
Blame Chris Urquiaga’s successful career on his mother.
“When I was seven years old, I didn’t really care much for practicing piano,” says the 27-year-old Maryland native. “My mom just put me in a room and made me practice. That was a pretty painstaking experience for me. I hated the fact that I couldn’t go outside and play.”
In time, Urquiaga “developed a passion for performing music,” and eventually found himself at the prestigious Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester.
The composer — who has made a gradual move away from classical compositions and into pop — has been on an upward trajectory over the past few years, acknowledged as one of the industry’s more dazzling new talents.
Not only is he a former Strathmore Artist-in-Residence, but last summer, he served as musical director for Signature Theatre’s cabaret, “Everything Elvis,” and performed at the venerable Blues Alley. In 2011, he played at the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for President Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and John Lewis, and recently performed at a “Get Out the Vote” rally helmed by Senator Bernie Sanders at Bethesda Blues and Jazz.
This Sunday, the Congressional Chorus will perform “Dreams,” a piece Urquiaga wrote when he was 19. It’s the centerpiece of a program entitled “Poets, Painters, and Dreams,” inspired by the works of Marc Chagall, Sara Teasdale, and Langston Hughes.
“Dreams is a three-movement piece based on Hughes’ poetry,” says Urquiaga. “I chose these poems by Langston Hughes from the Harlem Renaissance era because I thought they were very masterful, full of substance. The poems are related, as they talk about dreams and perseverance and the hardships of life.” Urquiaga will perform piano alongside a chamber ensemble and the full one-hundred voice chorus.
Urquiaga, who has released two pop albums — I’m Here and Complete — calls his style of music a blend of pop with R&B and Latin influences, owing to his Brazilian and Peruvian heritage. In the classical music realm, however, he doesn’t “follow any particular genre or agenda — I just try to make my music very melodically driven.”
The composer also considers himself an ally of the LGBTQ community. “I’m very happy that there is a greater sense of acceptance in our society of LGBT people,” he says. “What I think allies are helping to do is to help make the LGBT community more part of the conversation, more part of what looks like mainstream America. It’s something very important to me, as I have a big gay fan base and I love them all.”
“Poets, Painters, and Dreams,” is Sunday, Nov. 18, at 4:30 p.m. at the Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW. Tickets are $19 to $39. Call 202-347-2635 or visit congressionalchorus.org.
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