Winner of the Jacob Druckman Orchestal Composition Award, Mexican composer Francisco Cortés-Álvarez (1983) is currently pursuing a master degree in composition at the Jacobs School of Music (Indiana University) where he holds a Graduate Assistantship in the Composition Department. He got a degree in composition from the National School of Music from the National University in Mexico where he got the prestigious Gabino Barreda medal; and got two consecutive grants to attend to the Aspen Music Festival and School (2005 and 06).
His compositions teachers have included Gabriela Ortiz, Don Freund, Claude Baker, Steven Stucky, George Tsontakis, Gerorgina Derbez, Martin Bresnick, Dereck Bermel and Mario Davidowsky.
Was fellow at the Mizzou New Music Festival, got an honorific mention at the Las Músicas Dormidas competition and has been selected to participate at the Foro Internacional de Música Nueva Manuel Enriquez (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011). Is a fellow of the Studies Abroad Grant (2010-2011) given by the Mexican National Endowment for the Arts and Culture and was fellow of the Young Creators Program (2008 - 2009) held by the same institution. Composed the Music for the short film "Confía en Mí"
His music has been performed in Mexico, the United States, Canada, Perú and France by soloists, ensembles and orchestras like Alarm Will Sound, Cassatt String Quartet, Ensamble 3, the Cuarteto Extremo, Tumben Paax, Mexico's National Symphonic Orchestra, the Aspen Sinfonia Orchestra, the American Academy of Conducting Orchestra and the Carlos Chávez Young Orchestra.
