Denis Rafael Nassar Baptista
Composer, Educator, Orchestrator & Pianist
Denis Nassar Baptista holds a Bachelor of Music in Composition from the University of Campinas, Brazil, a Master’s degree in Music Composition from the University of Calgary, and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Music (D.Mus.) at the University of Alberta. During his master’s studies he had the privilege of studying with Laurie Radford, David Eagle and being mentored by Allan Bell.
His compositions cover a variety of genres: orchestra, chamber music, choir, electroacoustic, music for video, dance and theatre. He has special passion studying Brazilian music and bringing a different flavour to his performances and compositions. These rich rhythms together with colorful harmonies and melodies in his compositions have been captivating the public around the world.
In Canada his compositions have been performed by many groups including The Land’s End Ensemble, the University of Calgary Orchestra, Orchestre Métropolitain and Calgary Wind Symphony.
Some of the awards he received in the past two years includes: the Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship, the Richard Johnston Award for his advanced skills in chamber music composition and an award for outstanding accomplishments by the Government of Alberta. Also, in 2015 his piece Kosmos received an award at the Land’s End National Composers Competition in Canada.
In 2018 his opera The incredible Journey (librettist Will Collins) won the international competition Opera Disrupted and in 2020 he was one of 9 composers honoured in the National Composition Competition Beethoven's Legacy organized by the Orchestre Métropolitain in Montreal. In this competition he was commended for the quality, originality and imagination of orchestral writing.
In 2019 two of his compositions were included in the RCM voice syllabus and have been performed by singers all over the North America.
Denis moved to Canada in 2010 and during the past 12 years he has been an active composer, performer and educator giving recitals, workshops, master classes in conferences and events. In 2023 he was invited to teach sound design and music in the Game Development Program at Trinity Western University, Langley – BC. He lives in Three Hills where he composes, performs and work as a professor and program director at Prairie College.
AWARDS
2024: Violet Archer Graduate Scholarship in Musical Composition
2023: Prix Opus Award nomination for Production of the Year, Québec (2023). The commissioned piece Le Pelleteur de Nuages, composed for the Orchestre Métropolitain, was featured as part of the nominated production.
2020: One of 9 composers honored in the National Composition Competition Beethoven's Legacy organized by the Orchestre Metropolitain in Montreal. Honorable mention received for the quality, originality and imagination of orchestral writing.
2018: Winner of the the international competition Opera Disrupted with his opera The Incredible Journey composed in collaboration with librettist Will Collins.
2015: Richard Johnston Award for advanced skills in chamber music composition.
2015: Award for outstanding accomplishments by the Government of Alberta.
2015: Finalist at the Land’s End National Composers Competition in Canada where his piece Kosmos received an award.
2014: Awarded the “Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship” and invited to speak in Athens, Greece about his work.