Available to hire
I am Octavio Vazquez, a composer, pianist, conductor, and educator based in New York. My work spans orchestral, chamber, vocal, and multimedia music, with teaching roles at Nazareth University and Eastman School of Music, and commissions from ensembles around the world.
I blend my Galician roots with contemporary language, foster new music through residencies and collaborations, and mentor students across undergraduate and graduate programs while actively pursuing performance, conducting, and creative leadership.
Experience Level
Language
Galician
Fluent
Portuguese
Fluent
Spanish; Castilian
Fluent
English
Fluent
Italian
Fluent
French
Advanced
German
Advanced
Work Experience
Instructor of Composition, Intermediate & Advanced Orchestration at Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2025Taught undergraduate and graduate courses in composition and orchestration; supervised orchestration projects and mentored emerging composers.
Associate Professor of Music (tenured) & Composition Program Director at Nazareth University School of Music
January 1, 2014 - PresentUG & GR composition lessons, orchestration, theory sequence; created BM in Composition program; launched film and media scoring track and a FMS minor; NASM accreditation and NY State approval; partnerships with industry and academia; diverse university service.
Guest Professor of Music Business at Santiago de Compostela University
January 1, 2015 - January 1, 2016Lectures and courses in music business as part of the master degree program.
Guest Composer at Winnipeg New Music Festival
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2018Coaching, panel discussions, private composition lessons.
Guest Composer at California Summer Music
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2016Coaching, lectures, private composition lessons.
Theory and Composition Faculty / Recital & Lesson Accompanist at Turtle Bay Music School
January 1, 1999 - January 1, 2006Theory and composition instruction; recital and lesson accompaniment.
Director at The Guernica Project Inc.
January 1, 2006 - January 1, 2011NGO promoting international cooperation and peaceful conflict resolution through music and the arts (pro bono).
Church Music Director & Organist at Various churches
January 1, 1984 - January 1, 2014Directed church music programs and served as organist for multiple communities over 24 years.
Education
Doctor of Musical Arts – Music Composition at University of Maryland, College Park
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2004Master of Music – Music Composition at Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 1998Graduate Studies – Conducting & Musicology at Royal Conservatorio Superior de Música (Real Conservatorio Superior de Música) – Madrid
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 1996MM ("Profesor Superior") – Music Theory & Pedagogy at Royal Conservatory of Madrid
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 1995BM ("Profesor") – Piano Performance at Adolfo Salazar Professional Conservatory of Music of Madrid
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 1995BM ("Profesor") – Improvisation & Collaborative Piano at Adolfo Salazar Professional Conservatory of Music of Madrid
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 1994Professional Studies – Architecture at San Pablo CEU University (Madrid)
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 1989Qualifications
National Endowment for the Arts Project Grant
January 1, 2021 - December 15, 2025New Music USA Project Grant
January 1, 2014 - December 15, 2025New Music USA Project Grant
January 1, 2012 - December 15, 2025Barrie Foundation Scholarship (two years of full tuition and all living expenses)
January 1, 1996 - December 15, 2025Fulbright Commission: Nostos (guitar suite)
January 1, 2009 - December 15, 2025Meir Rimon Award, International Horn Society
January 1, 2017 - December 15, 2025First Prize, Kromatika 2016 International Choral Composition Competition
January 1, 2016 - December 15, 2025First Prize, Galician Folk Songs International Composition Competition
January 1, 2015 - December 15, 2025New York Foundation for the Arts: IAP Mentoring Program
January 1, 2013 - December 15, 2025Industry Experience
Media & Entertainment, Education, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services
Experience Level
Hire a Composer
We have the best composer experts on Twine. Hire a composer in New York today.