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Opera

Featured
Tres minutos (2022)
Opera, Film, Discography
Tres minutos (2022)
Opera, Film, Discography

Opera. Drama. 45:00. Libretto: Marella Martin Koch

Tres Minutos is a chamber opera by composer Nicolas Lell Benavides and librettist Marella Martin Koch. Inspired by a real program that reunites families separated by immigration policies at the U.S. - Mexico Border, but only for three minutes, Tres Minutos imagines the story of Diego and Nila, a brother and sister who share DNA but not citizenship. When Diego is deported, leaving Nila behind, questions of identity, duty, and belonging threaten to consume them. The opera will be approximately 45 minutes long and explore the consequences of separation in intimate, human terms.

Opera, Film, Discography
Caravana de mujeres (in development with MassOpera and OperaHub)
In Development, Opera
Caravana de mujeres (in development with MassOpera and OperaHub)
In Development, Opera

Opera. Comedy.

Libretto: Laura Barati

In Development, Opera
Pepito (2019)
Opera, Discography, Sheet Music
Pepito (2019)
Opera, Discography, Sheet Music

Opera, comedy. 22:00. Libretto: Marella Martin Koch

Pepito, a lonely shelter dog, misses his old family and his old life. Camila and David, young married professionals, are searching for the perfect dog. As the cracks in Camila and David's marriage deepen, Camila and and Pepito form an unshakeable bond.

Opera, Discography, Sheet Music
Gilberto (in progress)
Opera, In Development
Gilberto (in progress)
Opera, In Development

Opera. Drama. 24:00. Libretto: Marella Martin Koch

Oakland. 1951. The Korean War looms large over the newly drafted young men of America. Gilberto, 21, left New Mexico for California six years ago and has never looked back. Resourceful and charming, he makes a life but not a living teaching dance lessons at Sweet's Ballroom

Scene 1 workshopped by The Glimmerglass Festival and West Edge Opera (in progress)

Opera, In Development
Dolores (in progress via West Edge Opera's Aperture)
Opera, In Development
Dolores (in progress via West Edge Opera's Aperture)
Opera, In Development

Opera. Drama. Libretto: Marella Martin Koch

The story of activist Dolores Huerta’s bold commitment to civil and workers rights movements, against great odds, the pressure of US politics, and the tragedy of assassination. libretto: Marella Martin Koch

Opera, In Development

Large Ensemble

Featured
Ocho Bendiciones (2019)
narrated, wind octet
Ocho Bendiciones (2019)
narrated, wind octet

For wind octet and narrator. 17:00

Commissioned and premiered by Nomad Session

Words by Benavides and Diego Dela Rosa, based on short stories by Juan B. Rael.

narrated, wind octet
Cool Grey City (2017)
wind octet, san francisco
Cool Grey City (2017)
wind octet, san francisco

For wind octet. 40 minutes

Commissioned by Nomad Session. Three movements.

wind octet, san francisco
Magnetismus (2015)
orchestra
Magnetismus (2015)
orchestra

For orchestra. 10:00

orchestra
Pain has an element of blank (2014) - Emily Dickinson Cycle
song, multi-movement, dickinson
Pain has an element of blank (2014) - Emily Dickinson Cycle
song, multi-movement, dickinson

For chamber orchestra and mezzo-soprano soloist. 23:00

Poetry by Emily Dickinson.

song, multi-movement, dickinson
Summer(s) of '69 (2015)
mixed ensemble, multimedia, video, improvised
Summer(s) of '69 (2015)
mixed ensemble, multimedia, video, improvised

For two flute, trumpet, bassoon, two string quartets, bass, conductor, and video. 11:00

mixed ensemble, multimedia, video, improvised
The Bay Suite (2014)
brass ensemble
The Bay Suite (2014)
brass ensemble

For brass ensemble. 12:30

Written for The Bay Brass with guest conductor Edwin Outwater. The suite is in three movements and explores different general themes in the Bay Area.

brass ensemble

Chamber

Featured
Little Cloud on Khemia Ensemble's Intersections album (Release date Dec 9 2022)
Little Cloud on Khemia Ensemble's Intersections album (Release date Dec 9 2022)

For soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion. ~9:00

Commissioned by Khemia Ensemble for the sophomore album, Intersections

La Luz
viola, max 8
La Luz
viola, max 8

Viola and electronics. 9:00-11:00

Commissioned by Calvin Green

viola, max 8
In Tandem album, feat. Cuates (2021)
violin
In Tandem album, feat. Cuates (2021)
violin

For two violins. 6:00

Commissioned and premiered by Lucia Lin as part of her In Tandem series with thanks to the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music

violin
Contact (2020)
electric guitar
Contact (2020)
electric guitar

For electric guitar. 6:30

Written for Alex Anest through the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music

electric guitar
Crosstalk (2020) - on HOCKET: #What2020SoundsLike
melodica, hocket
Crosstalk (2020) - on HOCKET: #What2020SoundsLike
melodica, hocket

Two melodicas. 1:00

Commissioned and premiered by HOCKET.

melodica, hocket
El Correcaminos (workshop 2019, rev. 2020, premiered 2021)
string quartet
El Correcaminos (workshop 2019, rev. 2020, premiered 2021)
string quartet

For string quartet. 25:00

Commissioned and premiered by Friction Quartet

string quartet
Rinconcito (2018)
guitar, string trio
Rinconcito (2018)
guitar, string trio

For guitar, violin, viola, and cello. 16:00

Commissioned and premiered by the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble

guitar, string trio
Ghost Trap (2017)
Max 7
Ghost Trap (2017)
Max 7

For two flutes and live electronics. Commissioned and premiered by Siroko Duo. 13:00

Max 7
The Color Festivals (2016)
harpsichord, string quartet
The Color Festivals (2016)
harpsichord, string quartet

For harpsichord and string quartet. 17:00

Commissioned and premiered by Elevate Ensemble

harpsichord, string quartet
flute
Copycat (2016)
flute

For three flutes. 2:00

Written for Areon Flutes

flute
For Max and Hannah (2015)
harp, string quartet, guitar, improv, arrangement
For Max and Hannah (2015)
harp, string quartet, guitar, improv, arrangement

For two guitars (arr. Timothy Sherren) 3:30

For harp and string quartet. 3:00

harp, string quartet, guitar, improv, arrangement
Recyclate (2015)
mixed ensemble
Recyclate (2015)
mixed ensemble

For flute, oboe, bass clarinet, violin, viola, and cello. 6:00

Commissioned and premiered by the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble

Inspired by El Anatsui’s Hovor II.

mixed ensemble
"...none of us were overly concerned" (2014, 2015)
"...none of us were overly concerned" (2014, 2015)

For flute, piano, and cello. 7:00

Bog Bodies and other Macabre Miniatures
mixed
Bog Bodies and other Macabre Miniatures
mixed

For flute, cello, electric guitar, and marimba. 9:00

mixed
For Alysse
solo
For Alysse
solo

For solo guitar or harp. 1:30

Written for my sister’s wedding.

solo
viola
Dum spiro... (2015)
viola

For solo viola and audience. Optional second viola. 10:30

Written for Vijay Chalasani

viola

Art Song

Featured
My Solitude (2020)
My Solitude (2020)

For voice and piano.

Text by Mark Saltzman

Commissioned by Boston Court Pasadena

Patience (2020)
Patience (2020)

For soprano and piano. 5:00

Poetry by Ross Gay

Commissioned by Boston Court Pasadena

Ghost Light (2019)

For soprano and piano. 3:00

Words by Kelley Rourke

Performed at The Glimmerglass Festival

This... joy (2019)

For baritone and piano. 2:00

Words by Marella Martin Koch

When I was a child (2018)

For mezzo-soprano and violin. 7:00

Words by Erin Bregman

Score upon request.

Where everything is music (2018)
Where everything is music (2018)

For two guitars and treble voice. 5:30

Commissioned and premiered by SopraDuo.

Text by Rumi, trans. Coleman Barks.

The oldest thirst there is (2017)

For soprano and cello. 4:00

Premiered by Winnie Nieh and Matt Schwede

The Artist (2017)

For Soprano and Piano. 12:00

Commissioned and premiered by Jill Morgan Brenner

Pain has an element of blank (2013) - Piano/vocal

For mezzo-soprano and piano. 25:00

Poetry by Emily Dickinson

Chamber orchestra version exists

Tus Manos (2017)

For voice and marimba (two players). 7:00

Commissioned and premiered by Xicameri (Stephanie Valadez and Jack Van Geem). Poetry: Pablo Neruda

Who says words with my mouth? (2013)

For soprano and piano. 6:30

Premiered by Chelsea Hollow and Sophie Xuefei Zhang

Three Lorca Songs (2014)

For mezzo-soprano and guitar. 10:30

Written for and premiered by Jarring Sounds

Squirrels aren't the cute little things you think they are (2013)

For soprano, melodica, and loop station. 9:00

Commissioned and premiered by Amy Foote

Choir

Featured
a cappella
i thank You God for most this amazing day (2014)
a cappella

for SATB choir. 4:00

Winner, 1st prize, SFCM Biennial Choral Composition Competition

a cappella
Treble Choir
A bird came down the walk (2011)
Treble Choir

For Treble Choir. 3:00

Commissioned and premiered by Musae.

Treble Choir
improvised
Let Us Allow (2009)
improvised

For soloist, conductor, and audience. 3:00

improvised

Electronic

Featured
On Trac |< (2022)
Electronic, Discography, Film
On Trac |< (2022)
Electronic, Discography, Film

Electronics and dance. 15:00

On Trac|< is a short film that looks at the intersection of human existence and machine acceleration in rural America. The film is choreographed and performed, by Amanda Castro, composed by Nicolas Lell Benavides, and co-directed by Amanda Castro and Lucas Godlewski. Benavides, a former Young Artist Composer with the Festival, has worked with Washington National Opera, West Edge Opera, Nashville Opera, Shreveport Opera, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble and more. Castro is a multidisciplinary artist with her storytelling rooted in rhythm, who has performed across the United States and abroad. She was most recently seen at Glimmerglass in 2021 the Fate in Il Trovatore, and in 2018 as Anita in West Side Story, a role she also performed at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Godlewski is a Brooklyn-based director of photography, prop stylist, and production designer. Godlewski heads The Glimmerglass Festival’s video department of one.

On Trac|< is generously supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, and Kara Unterberg.

Electronic, Discography, Film
Ghost Trap (2017)
Max 7
Electronic, Chamber
Ghost Trap (2017)
Max 7
Electronic, Chamber

For two flutes and live electronics. Commissioned and premiered by Siroko Duo. 13:00

Max 7
Electronic, Chamber
Go Bug, Got You! (2014)
tape
Electronic, Discography
Go Bug, Got You! (2014)
tape
Electronic, Discography

Tape. 4:00.

Written for my good friend Kyle Hovatter’s daughter, Alice. Featured on his album: “Music for Alice’s Room”

tape
Electronic, Discography

Jazz

Featured
Thirsty Fish (2015)
Jazz
Thirsty Fish (2015)
Jazz

Jazz, written for Maggie for our wedding day

Poem by Rumi, translation by Coleman Barks

Played

Jazz
My Solitude (2020)
Jazz, Art Song
My Solitude (2020)
Jazz, Art Song

For voice and piano.

Text by Mark Saltzman

Commissioned by Boston Court Pasadena

Jazz, Art Song

Film

Featured
Tres minutos (2022)
Opera
Tres minutos (2022)
Opera

Opera. Drama. 45:00. Libretto: Marella Martin Koch

Tres Minutos is a chamber opera by composer Nicolas Lell Benavides and librettist Marella Martin Koch. Inspired by a real program that reunites families separated by immigration policies at the U.S. - Mexico Border, but only for three minutes, Tres Minutos imagines the story of Diego and Nila, a brother and sister who share DNA but not citizenship. When Diego is deported, leaving Nila behind, questions of identity, duty, and belonging threaten to consume them. The opera will be approximately 45 minutes long and explore the consequences of separation in intimate, human terms.

Opera
On Trac |&lt; (2022)
On Trac |< (2022)

Electronics and dance. 15:00

On Trac|< is a short film that looks at the intersection of human existence and machine acceleration in rural America. The film is choreographed and performed, by Amanda Castro, composed by Nicolas Lell Benavides, and co-directed by Amanda Castro and Lucas Godlewski. Benavides, a former Young Artist Composer with the Festival, has worked with Washington National Opera, West Edge Opera, Nashville Opera, Shreveport Opera, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble and more. Castro is a multidisciplinary artist with her storytelling rooted in rhythm, who has performed across the United States and abroad. She was most recently seen at Glimmerglass in 2021 the Fate in Il Trovatore, and in 2018 as Anita in West Side Story, a role she also performed at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Godlewski is a Brooklyn-based director of photography, prop stylist, and production designer. Godlewski heads The Glimmerglass Festival’s video department of one.

On Trac|< is generously supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, and Kara Unterberg.

strongest i'll ever be (documentary, 2017)
documentary score
strongest i'll ever be (documentary, 2017)
documentary score

Documentary score.

documentary score
The Trouble With Bread (2013)
documentary score
The Trouble With Bread (2013)
documentary score

Documentary. Trailer only, film must be purchased to view

documentary score

Work Sample Selections