What was your project about?

My project focused on the music of Rosa Mercedes Ayarza de Morales (1881–1969), a Peruvian composer, choir conductor, promoter, and music teacher. Ayarza de Morales was a prominent figure in Peruvian music, dedicating her life to promoting and preserving Peruvian folklore. Her extensive collection of Peruvian music covers a diverse range of genres, including marineras, tonderos, zamacuecas, valses, yaravíes, tristes, pregones, huaynos, festejos, and more. The outcome of my research was a recital presented at the School of Music and Dance with fellow musicians from the Latinx community. I also created a page about Mercedes—with biographical information, recordings, scores, and other resources—on Art Song Augmented.

Where are you now and how did your project shape the work you’re currently doing?

I am preparing for my last year at the University of Oregon’s School of Music and Dance. Thanks to the Cykler grant and the work I did with Steve, I gained skills that have allowed me to continue my research interests, including the proposal for my DMA lecture-document and presentations at various song festivals. On top of that, I feel motivated to keep performing songs in Spanish that are not performed very much, and to inspire students and future generations to discover the beauty of Latin-American art song.