Experience the premiere of a newly commissioned work by Guggenheim Fellow Nicolás Lell Benavides ’10, written for bowed piano ensemble. 

The piece is performed on the original 9-foot Baldwin bowed piano, gifted to Santa Clara University by the family of renowned composer Stephen Scott (1944–2021), whose pioneering work with his own ensemble transformed the possibilities of the instrument. Now under the care of 2024–26 Frank Sinatra Chair in the Performing Arts Teresa McCollough, the instrument finds new life in this collaboration. Benavides joins McCollough and the SCU New Music Ensemble as both composer and performer, honoring Scott’s legacy while carrying the bowed piano into a new era of performance.

This event is part of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Frank Sinatra Chair in the Performing Arts series.

Experience the premiere of a newly commissioned work by Guggenheim Fellow Nicolás Lell Benavides ’10, written for bowed piano ensemble. 

The piece is performed on the original 9-foot Baldwin bowed piano, gifted to Santa Clara University by the family of renowned composer Stephen Scott (1944–2021), whose pioneering work with his own ensemble transformed the possibilities of the instrument. Now under the care of 2024–26 Frank Sinatra Chair in the Performing Arts Teresa McCollough, the instrument finds new life in this collaboration. Benavides joins McCollough and the SCU New Music Ensemble as both composer and performer, honoring Scott’s legacy while carrying the bowed piano into a new era of performance.

Melinda Martinez Becker ’04, M.A. ’06 and the Friction Quartet perform selections composed by Nicolás Lell Benavides ’10.

Wildly diverse and enriching concerts are presented as a part of the Music@Noon class, which is also open to the public. Take a lunch break to enjoy this fresh series!

This event is part of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Frank Sinatra Chair in the Performing Arts series.

Sara Andon and Sarah Wass perform “Ghost Trap” for two flutes and electronics as part of Tuesdays @ Monk Space

SF Girls Chorus performs “Si los riesgos del mar” with singer/songwriter Diana Gameros as part of their Mother’s Day concert.

SF Girls Chorus performs my commission “Si los riesgos del mar” for their annual gala, as part of my residency with them in the 25-26 season

Teresa McCollough, professor of music and 2024-26 Frank Sinatra Chair in the Performing Arts, plays music of American composers including Aaron Copland and guest composer Nicolas Lell Benavides ’10.

This event is part of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Frank Sinatra Chair in the Performing Arts series.

Chanting to Paradise 
Emily Dickinson's Poetry through song 

Festival opener featuring the UAH Art Song Ensemble alongside Her Art in Song Festival Artists and special guests! The program features Aaron Copland's Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson, choral works by Karen Thomas, Susan LaBarr, Jayne Borras, and Nicolás Lell Benavides; and songs by Lori Laitman and Libby Larsen.

• John HAYHURST

  • Adagio

• Nicolás Lell BENAVIDES

  • Sueño en mi sueño

• Intermission

• GARDEL

  • "Por una cabeza" (arr. for four cellos)

• MOZART

  • String Quintet No. 3 in C major, K. 515

Guggenheim Fellow Nicolás Lell Benavides ’10 begins his residency at SCU with a full performance of his chamber opera, Tres Minutos.

In collaboration with 2024–26 Frank Sinatra Chair Teresa McCollough, and featuring vocalists Jessica Jacoby ’27 and Nathan Tu ’27, the work—inspired by a real program briefly reuniting immigrant families at the U.S.–Mexico border—explores the profound emotional consequences of separation.

This event is part of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Frank Sinatra Chair in the Performing Arts series.

About this Performance

Inspired by Judy Baca’s mural The Great Wall of Los Angeles, Gustavo Dudamel and Gabriela Ortiz bring together a group of composer—Juhi Bansal, Nicolás Lell Benavides, Viet Cuong, Estevan Olmos, Xavier Muzik, and Nina Shekhar—to create an hour-long symphonic tribute to Angelenos who have shaped this city’s history, featuring an original film by director Alejandro G. Iñárritu.

Symphonic Dances

Saturday, January 24, 2026 / 6 p.m.

Roberto Minczuk Music DirectorRoman Rabinovich piano

Benavides Acequia (2024)
Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3
Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances

Popejoy Hall / 203 Cornell Drive, NE / Albuquerque, 87106 

Songs of the Heart

January 20, 2026 | 7:30 pM | Trinity University

Anne Guzzo | Ich (2025)World Premiere | mezzo soprano, clarinet, piano

Nicolás Lell Benavides | TBD commission (2025)World Premiere | mezzo soprano, clarinet, violin, cello, piano

Michael Ippolito | The Stonecutter (2018) from Strange Loops | violin, cello

Peter Lieberson, arr. Paul Bateman | Neruda Songs (2005) | mezzo soprano, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano

All levels of the San Francisco Girls Chorus return to the Davies stage for this special Winter tradition, featuring cutting-edge new works as well as annual favorites including The First Nowell and Silent Night. This year, the concert features the premiere of a work by 2025-2026 Composer-in-Residence Nicolás Lell Benavides.

Full broadcast of Dolores opera Nov 2 performance with Opera Southwest at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. Listen in online as well for FREE!

Remember: C4's First Ten Years (2005-2015)
Featuring works of:  Daniel Andor-Ardó*, Nicolás Lell Benavides, Matthew Brown, Elis Jones, Joseph Rubenstein#, Bettina Sheppard#, Martha Sullivan#, Perry Townsend*, Gordon Williamson and world premieres by Lila Meretzky*^
and Brian Mountford*^.

Saturday, November 15 - St. Luke in the Fields - 7:30pm
Friday, November 21 - St. John's in the Village - 7:30pm

Remember: C4's First Ten Years (2005-2015)
Featuring works of:  Daniel Andor-Ardó*, Nicolás Lell Benavides, Matthew Brown, Elis Jones, Joseph Rubenstein#, Bettina Sheppard#, Martha Sullivan#, Perry Townsend*, Gordon Williamson and world premieres by Lila Meretzky*^
and Brian Mountford*^.

Saturday, November 15 - St. Luke in the Fields - 7:30pm
Friday, November 21 - St. John's in the Village - 7:30pm

Eighth Blackbird performs works by Creative Lab alumni as part of the Eyrie Festival, including my piece Rinconcito for quartet.

FSQ at USU Series | THE CROSSING POINT
Concert #2: Listening to the Living World

With guest Thomas Glenn, tenor

Russell/Wanlass Performance Hall
November 3, 2025 @ 7:30 pm

Laura Kaminsky | Arboreal for String Quartet
Gabriela Lena Frank | A Psalm of Disquiet for string quartet
Aakash Mittal | Living Memory for string quartet and film
Akshaya Tucker | Night Fire for string quartet and tenor
Nicolas Lell Benavides | Lek for string quartet and sage grouse field recording

Dolores, composed by Nicolás Lell Benavides with a libretto by Marella Martin Koch, The opera focuses on Chicano Civil Rights activist Dolores Huerta, her work with the United Farm Workers during the Delano Grape Strike, and her advocacy to get Robert F. Kennedy elected. 

Dolores, composed by Nicolás Lell Benavides with a libretto by Marella Martin Koch, The opera focuses on Chicano Civil Rights activist Dolores Huerta, her work with the United Farm Workers during the Delano Grape Strike, and her advocacy to get Robert F. Kennedy elected. 

Dolores, composed by Nicolás Lell Benavides with a libretto by Marella Martin Koch, The opera focuses on Chicano Civil Rights activist Dolores Huerta, her work with the United Farm Workers during the Delano Grape Strike, and her advocacy to get Robert F. Kennedy elected. 

L’Étoile Violin Duo performs Cuates, alongside other chamber music for strings.

Dolores, composed by Nicolás Lell Benavides with a libretto by Marella Martin Koch, The opera focuses on Chicano Civil Rights activist Dolores Huerta, her work with the United Farm Workers during the Delano Grape Strike, and her advocacy to get Robert F. Kennedy elected. 

Oboist Anne Marie Gabriele performs an evening of chamber music with string quartet, including an instrumental of my Canto Caló.

Dolores, composed by Nicolás Lell Benavides with a libretto by Marella Martin Koch, The opera focuses on Chicano Civil Rights activist Dolores Huerta, her work with the United Farm Workers during the Delano Grape Strike, and her advocacy to get Robert F. Kennedy elected. 

Dolores, composed by Nicolás Lell Benavides with a libretto by Marella Martin Koch, The opera focuses on Chicano Civil Rights activist Dolores Huerta, her work with the United Farm Workers during the Delano Grape Strike, and her advocacy to get Robert F. Kennedy elected. 

Dolores, composed by Nicolás Lell Benavides with a libretto by Marella Martin Koch, The opera focuses on Chicano Civil Rights activist Dolores Huerta, her work with the United Farm Workers during the Delano Grape Strike, and her advocacy to get Robert F. Kennedy elected.