ANDRÉS

F. MALDONADO, MA

Music Composer, Music Professor, Pianist, PhD Candidate in Music Composition

Andrés Fernando Maldonado is a composer based in New York. Growing up, he divided his musical activities between classical music, playing classical piano, and vernacular music, covering any pop, rock or Latin music with his family and friends. As a composer, he enjoys exploring his Latin roots, landscapes and the natural world, themes of home and family, and telling stories through multimedia and collaboration. His music has been performed in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. He has had the pleasure of being commissioned by wonderful musicians. Some of those musicians are: American Chamber Ensemble, at Hofstra’s John Cranford Adams Playhouse, Camerata (Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra), and The Curiosity Cabinet. He was also a Composition Fellow at the Talis Music Festival in Saas-Fee, Switzerland. He finds profound joy getting to score original music for tech companies Logitech and ASUS through Urban Koi’s SOTU STUDIO. He is also an adjunct Professor of Music at Hofstra University, teaching core music theory, ear training, and group piano classes. He is currently working on earning his PhD for Music Composition at Rutgers University. 

Website: andresfmaldonado.com

SEED + CATALYST

ANDRÉS: The seed was planted when I was very young. The person who inspired me profoundly was my father. He is a medical doctor (psychiatrist), but he is also a talented guitar player/singer and passionate music lover. He would tell me that whenever I was feeling anything I can go sit at the piano and just play, especially if I were ever down about something, that music was a great way to engage with the world and work things out. I watched him sing and play guitar growing up and it was always an activity of unity, gathering and enjoyment among my family and friends. When I was 10, I constantly saw him with a notepad and sitting at the piano (he didn’t usually go to the piano). During that time, he was writing a song for my new born sister. So from a young age he cultivated in me a very positive approach to music. The seed starting blooming from then on. 

PIVOTAL MOMENT

ANDRÉS: I have two moments that come to mind. The first was when I decided that I wanted to pursue music, earnestly. I had in mind from a young age that I was going to be a doctor, I think because I admired my father so much I wanted to be like him. I entered college as “undecided”. Towards the end of my freshman year of college I sat my parents down and told them I really wanted to pursue music because that was what I was passionate about. They had the suspicion all along that that was what I wanted to do, and they were incredibly supportive. That led me down my current path, which I am very grateful for.

The second moment that comes to mind contributed to a significant perspective/outlook shift. That was when I lost my mother and grandfather in an accident. It was not even a full year after I sat my parents down to talk about my career path. It was a brutal realization that we don’t know how much time we have with our loved ones. We are very close as a family so it was very painful to lose her and my grandfather. Since that moment I carry a sense of urgency to not take time with loved ones for granted, to not waste time on things that make me unhappy, and to always be present and enjoy time with my loved ones. 

3 LESSONS

  • ANDRÉS: Keep your loved ones close. I think to get to share simple moments, stories, sorrows, laughter, anything with a loved one is priceless and precious. 

  • ANDRÉS: Self-efficacy and persistence are your north star. A colleague and friend of mine once told me that self-efficacy is the greatest determiner of success. This has stuck with me and I have found it to be true. As cheesy as it might sound, if you believe in your ability to do something and persist in achieving your goals, you can get there. It is great to see people you know grow and live up to their potential. Personally, I have found that whether it is working on project or a personal life goal, even if I have struggled in some way, if I can streamline my focus and be mindful of what I want and how to get there, I can do it. 

  • ANDRÉS: Listen to your gut. My body is usually the first to tell me how I truly feel about something and how I should proceed. I might feel something in my stomach, or in my legs, or a tingle in my hand, maybe lightness, tension, or a haziness. When I feel these things, I try to let it guide me in the way that would make me feel most balanced. Before I started learning to be present with these kinds of feelings, my emotions were more out of whack. 

3 TOOLS

  • ANDRÉS: These two often go hand in hand. Logic Pro is my Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) of choice that I use for instrumental mock ups and for different media projects. I also load up my favorite piano library (Pianoteq) and just use the piano to sketch concert works on manuscript paper. I love using the Hal Leonard Carta No. 27 Manuscript Paper. It is 18” x 12” with 16 staves and provides a lot of room for sketching. The back of each manuscript is blank, which I also use to draft, write and plan. I also love using physical paper because it lets me use my imagination more. 

  • ANDRÉS: Passion Planner is a great planner that has a lot of things in one. They have a digital and analog version. I like to use the analog version. It has each month of the year, appointment calendar for each day, places to put any monthly, quarterly, and year goals, 20 pages of both blank and dotted pages in the back, and more. I have used it for years and it has been really helpful in my teaching, keeping track of deadlines and to be intentional about my goals during the year. 

  • ANDRÉS: I love to go and run outside when I get the chance. I just like to get fresh air, and if I’m not running, I’m walking. Sometimes I’ll do it to take a break or as a warm up before more rigorous exercise. I’m usually listening to my favorite music, whether that be old or new stuff. This always helps to center me. 

STUDENT OF THE UNIVERSE: THE MEANING

”Being a ‘Student of the Universe’ to me means being open to the surrounding world. There is a lot of inherent knowledge in the environment. I am a big believer in ‘what kind of gut feeling is this moment giving me’ and using that as a compass. Am I feeling excitement, fear, happiness, weak, love, etc., and how does that make me want to proceed in life? As a composer, I have also learned to be open to the sounds of the world. There are sounds all around us and each one make us feel in different ways. Being a ‘Student of the Universe’ also means trying to learn through all the experiences of life. Life can be a hard puzzle to solve sometimes and it can require you to stretch in ways you are not comfortable with or used to. When I am a ‘Student of the Universe,’ and I’m working through something, I’m trying to make sense of it by listening and being present.”

— ANDRÉS F. MALDONADO