The program list at the 12th annual Cactus Pear Music Festival includes selections from some of the classical world’s biggest names: Bach. Mozart. Brahms.

And Sorgi.

That would be Colin Sorgi, a 21-year-old composer who hails from San Antonio. Now a student at the Peabody Institute of Music, Sorgi was commissioned to write a chamber work for a seven-piece ensemble: four string players, a flautist, a clarinetist and a horn player.

The piece, “Huapango,” will premiere Saturday, July 19, at the Cactus Pear festival’s finale in San Antonio.

“I knew I wanted to write something fun and interesting for both the performers and the audience, and also integrate some of our South Texan culture in there, too,” Sorgi said of the piece, which is named for a rhythmic music and dance style from Mexico.

Sorgi’s composition was selected as part of the repertoire of the Cactus Pear Young Artists’ Program fellows, seven young musicians chosen to study and perform with the pros during the annual music festival, a two-week celebration of chamber music featuring some of the top performers from around the globe.

“This is an incredibly strong piece,” said Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio, artistic director for the festival. “I may program it on another festival concert (as well). It’s really, really good.”

An alumnus of the Cactus Pear Young Artists’ Program, Sorgi, whose parents are both violinists, has been playing the violin himself for almost 12 years — and composing even longer.

“Composing has kind of always just come naturally,” he said. “I’ve never had a private composition teacher, so I have really learned everything I know about writing music from my favorite composers.”
 
As for the premiere, which the composer won’t be able to attend since he is studying at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado, he’s eager to hear what the musicians make of his work.

“I think any composer is always a little nervous about the first performance of a new piece, but I’m confident that these musicians will be more than able to pull off a fantastic performance,” he said.

Jennifer Roolf Laster | 210SA contributor