“Puerto Abierto (The Open Port),” celebrates the musical wealth that Puerto Rico and the Caribbean have shared with the world.
Puerto Abierto 2025
In 2025, Puerto Abierto featured four new compositions that explored an ancient Aztec myth, identity and memories of home.
Puerto Abierto 2025 was broadcast on Classical NEPM on Sunday, September 14 at 4pm and on Thursday, September 18 at 7pm.
The Victory Players are:
Nathan Ben-Yehuda, piano
Linda Hwang, cello
Giovanni Pérez, flute
Robert Rocheteau, percussion
Eric Schutz, clarinet
Samuel Vargas, violin
Tianhui Ng, Music Director
The composers are:
J. Andrés Ballesteros
Andrés is a composer and educator based in Boston. A graduate of Harvard, he describes himself as a poly-stylist whose work is centered in classical music, but includes a variety of styles, from Latin music to electronics and theater. He often creates work that engages with community organizations and youth around social issues. His composition Five Suns is based on an ancient Aztec myth. Andrés joins The Victory Players to narrate Five Suns.
Andrés comments on Five Suns:
The Victory Players' complete performance of Five Suns.
Sonia Morales-Matos
A native of Puerto Rico, Sonia is currently an educator living in Cincinnati. Her work Divertimeñto Caribeno is inspired by the memories of home in the Puerto Rican diaspora. Sonia has degrees from the Berklee College of Music, Indiana University and the Conservatory of Music in Puerto Rico.
Sonia's comments on Divertimeñto Caribeno:
Odaline de la Martinez
Odaline’s composition Memorias is based on her recollections of her youth in Cuba. She studied music at Tulane University, the Royal Academy of Music in London and the University of Surrey. In 1984, Odaline was the first woman to conduct a BBC Proms Concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Odaline's comments on Memorias:
Luis Quintana
Luis Quintana’s composition Midnight Rumba explores the surreal night-scape of his home in Puerto Rico. Currently a resident of Paris, Luis studied music at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music and the Paris Conservatory. He is the winner of several international awards including a 2022 composition prize from the Academy des Beaux-Arts and a 2024 Guggenheim Fellowship.
Luis' comments on Midnight Rumba:
Puerto Abierto was recorded at Holyoke Media in June 2025 by Daniel Kurganov and mixed by Alan Mattes. The program was produced for the Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts by John Voci.
Puerto Abierto 2024
The four compositions commissioned by the Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts in 2024 examine identity, flowers, the vitality of ports and the idea of home.
Puerto Abierto 2024 was broadcast on Classical NEPM on Sunday, September 22.
The Victory Players are:
Nathan Ben-Yehuda, piano
Linda Hwang, cello
Justin Ouellet, violin
Giovanni Pérez, flute
Robert Rocheteau, percussion
Eric Schultz, clarinet
Tianhui Ng, Music Director
The composers are:
Eric Lemmon
Eric is an interdisciplinary artist whose music examines politics and technology. In addition to composing, he is a member of Ensemble Decipher, an experimental music group that uses vintage as well as contemporary and emerging technology in their performances. Eric has a Ph.D. in Music Composition from Stony Brook University.
Eric's comments on The Nightwatcher:
Julio Quiñones
Julio is known for his compelling, expressive and socially aware music, imbued with visceral gestures and intuition that represents every aspect of his identity. A native of Puerto Rico, Julio’s work is grounded in his cultural background and often interacts with folk and popular music as well as literature and art from seemingly disparate, unconnected places. Julio is currently a doctoral student at City University in New York.
Julio's comments on my father never knew Amaury Veray:
Cole Reyes
Cole is a composer, educator and arts administrator. His music draws on a diverse array of influences including pop, rock, folk and classical. Thematically he often explores the intersection of the personal with the broader world. Cole is a co-founder of Telos Consort, a chamber music ensemble based in New York dedicated to the performance and curation of new music. He is currently a doctoral student at the University of Michigan.
Cole's comments on Firming Ground:
Nicholas Villane
Nico’s music incorporates broad influences shaped by his belief that music is a shared human experience. He has a D.M. in Composition from Florida State University.
Nico's comments on Because of Flowers:
Puerto Abierto was recorded at Holyoke Media in June 2024 by Alan Mattes.
Special thanks to the Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts:
Don Sanders, Executive Artistic Director
Puerto Abierto 2024 was produced for Classical NEPM by John Voci.