Born and raised in Aguascalientes, Mexico, Luis Ramirez (b. 1992) is a Mexican-Canadian composer known for vibrant, rhythmically intricate textures and evocative soundscapes blending Mexican folklore with cinematic storytelling. Praised by Jocelyn Morlock for his “great talent and imaginative, unique voice,” his works have been performed by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de México, Calgary Philharmonic, Edmonton Symphony, and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
Recognized as a NextGen Composer with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and a Composer Fellow with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, he has received first prize in the Large Ensemble SOCAN Awards and the CMC Prairie Region Emerging Composer Competition for Chido, an honorable mention from the Barlow Endowment for Singularity, and third prize in the Solo & Duet SOCAN Awards for Prompt. His music has premiered at Festival Cervantino, Ottawa Chamberfest, Music on Main, Prisms Festival, the Emerald Coast Chamber Music Festival, Casalmaggiore, and Class Axe. Recent commissions include two works for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Duo Concertante, Brandon Chamber Players, and The Happenstancers.
A pianist, orchestral conductor, and published scholar, he is completing his Ph.D under Randolph Peters at York University and is a graduate of Brandon University, where he studied piano with Alexander Tselyakov and composition with Dr. Patrick Carrabré. Based in Manitoba, he has joined the Music Research Department at Brandon University as an Assistant Professor of Music Theory.