Paul

Paul Mortilla currently studies music composition as a doctoral candidate and professor at Rice University. Before attending Rice, he received a Master’s of Music from the Yale School of Music (2020) and a Bachelor’s from Indiana University (2017). He has studied music composition with Karim Al-Zand, Art Gottschalk, Anthony Brandt, David Lang, Christopher Theofinidis, Martin Bresnick, Aaron J. Kernis, Don Freund, David Dzubay, Aaron Travers, Scott Stinson. Paul attended notable summer festivals such as Tanglewood (2017) and Aspen Music Festival (2022). Paul is a recipient of various awards such as Chamber Music America commission/grant (2022), American Academy of Arts and Letters Charles Ives Scholarship, Yale School of Music Charles Wood Award, and Yale School of Music Teaching Fellowship. Paul’s music has been performed by Alarm Will Sound, Callithumpian Consort, and Albany Symphony’s Dogs of Desire. Along with composition, Paul is an active conductor and performer. He is an avid conductor and facilitator of the performance and recording of contemporary music. Paul played violin with Indiana University’s University Orchestra, Yale Cabaret, and for new student works at Rice. Paul also studies viola da gamba, having performed with Yale Collegium and Rice Collegium. Paul is currently a staff singer at Trinity Episcopal Church Midtown. 

Beyond Western Classical music, Paul also studies Javanese Gamelan with Mas Dar and North Indian Raga with Michael Harrison. Paul experiments in electronic music and music production as well as performance art. Paul’s music has been released on album with emerging ensembles such as the Pathos Trio.