Brian Morales is a composer, producer (and closet sound designer) who thrives when collaborating with other musicians and creatives. He is most widely known for his orchestration of The Color Purple, which featured Cynthia Erivo and was directed by John Doyle (and also garnered him a nomination for an Olivier Award at the age of 24). 

From a young age, Brian had a keen ear for music and media; the combination of expressive and extroverted visuals mixed with dynamic, melodramatic music in Disney’s Fantasia remains a steadfast inspiration for much of his creative output. 

His chamber ballet, Strangers, was his first serious large-form work for woodwind quintet, percussion and 4 dancers -- completed during the pandemic with choreographer and collaborator Julia Bengtsson (album now streaming everywhere). This collaboration with Julia has culminated over multiple projects including “Of Love,” a ballet setting of his violin sonata for three dancers which was premiered at The United Palace and “House of Mercy,” a dynamic ensemble piece that examines the harrowing history of an asylum in uptown Inwood. 

Brian actively writes and produces music for Film and TV and was recently announced as a 2025 Fellow for the Los Angeles Film Conducting Intensive. He received his M.M. in composition from the Manhattan School of Music, a B.M. from California State University Fullerton and attended the European American Musical Alliance (EAMA) where he realized his lifelong dream of studying counterpoint in Paris, France. Brian currently is an active chorus member for the acclaimed, award-winning Cantori New York where he sings Tenor 2 under the baton of Maestro Mark Shapiro

Full Biography

Artistic Statement

My practice is an ongoing dialogue with other composers:

Imagine you are walking down a boulevard. You see a bunch of signs hanging in front of all these shops stacked up against each other, disappearing into the horizon. They’re all different composers' names. You stop by Beethoven’s shop because it's a familiar name and everyone is always talking about him (even though he died nearly 200 years ago). You walk in and he’s standing right there. You have a conversation with him and he seems…complicated. But he gets excited when you pull out a recording of his. You listen and have that beautiful moment of discovery. You listen to that one track again and again. And then you read the title: Symphony No. 3. And you think, “Well now I have to listen to 1 and 2. And maybe you buy a book about him just to see if there are any other musical suggestions. And then your friends tell you how much they love his music and all their favorite works by him. And you’re inspired. And you write a piece of music from that inspiration. And maybe Beethoven’s style creeps in, or maybe you quote something or at least make a musical nod to it. But let’s be honest, his music helped you finish that piece. That little discovery exposed you to so much and gave you a renewed joy in your life. And then you go to that boulevard again and walk down to the next composer’s shop. It’s Berlioz or Tchaikovsky or Hildegard von Bingen. And you have another conversation. And you are inspired and you write another piece. And their music inspires you and makes an impression in your music. 

My practice is an ongoing dialogue with other composers; just trying to make the world a more musical place.

Press

September 30, 2023 | Inwood Art Works, Arron Simms
On Air Live N' Local: Brian Morales

May 17, 2020 | The Boston Musical Intelligencer, Laura Stanfield Prichard
Sing Out Strong: DeColonized Voices

July 26, 2019 | TheaterScene.net, Darryl Reilley
Tender Napalm

July 25, 2019 | TheFrontRowCenter.com, Constance Rodgers
Tender Napalm

July 22, 2019 | Sandi Durell’s Theater Pizzaz, Marcina Zaccaria
Tender Napalm

October 21, 2018 | New York Scherzo
Documentary cameo on Directed by Shaan Couture

May 24, 2017 | WKCR FM, Carl Schoonover
Radio Interview with Carl Schoonover

April 20, 2016 | Schmopera, Jenna Simeonov
Has Everyone See the Tinder Opera? (Conductor, Music Preparation)

July | MusicConnection Magazine, Ted Jamison
The Acetates at Silverlake Lounge

October 11, 2013 | Broadway World (UK), Carrie Dunn
48-Hour Update! Mormon, Once, Charlie All leading Categories

April 1, 2013 | Broadway World (Los Angeles), Shari Barrett
BWW Reviews: The Trouble With Words Continues to Astound Audiences at the Lost Studio through April 12

March 11, 2013 | Stage and Cinema, Tony Frankel 
Theater Review: THE TROUBLE WITH WORDS (Coeurage Theatre Company at Lost Studio)

September 24, 2011 | Orange County Register
O.C. Orchestra gives young performers concert experience

July 1, 2011 | Stage and Cinema, Tony Frankel 
Los Angeles Theater Review: THE TROUBLE WITH WORDS (Coeurage Theatre Company)

Awards

2023 | NYSCA Recipient for Strangers: A Chamber Ballet About Immigration

2023 | Auditor for the ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop

2022 | Redtail Composer Artist Residency (formerly Explore the Metropolis)

2022 | 2nd round finalist in WindWerk - Take Off Arranger Competition

2019-20 | Composer-in-Residence for the 2019/20 fp Creative

2020 | 100 Offerings of Peace Commission from the Peace Studio

2020 | White Snake Projects – Sing Out Strong: Decolonized Voices Commission

2019 | Selected Composer for the Stradella Baroque Festival NEWTRACKS @FBAS

2019 | Talis Music Festival Academy Music Fellow

2018 | Diploma for Achievements in the Art of Choral Writing from the III International Choral Writing Competition Named After A.D. Kastalsky

2018 | Winner of the EQT Composition Contest

2018 | Yorkshire Film Scoring Competition

2019 | Baltimore Philharmonia Composer Contest

2019 | Cypress Symphonic Winds Composer Competition

2017 | Dean’s List for Manhattan School of Music

2013 | Olivier Award Nomination – Orchestrations (The Color Purple at Menier Chocolate Factory)

2011 | LA Weekly Theater Awards – Musical of the Year Award (The Color Purple at Celebration Theater, LA)

2010-11 | Alan. A. Mannasson Scholar

2008 | Phi Mu Alpha American Soloist Competition (undergrad division), 1st place undergrad division

2006 | Louis Armstrong Jazz Award

Photos