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The New Canon Project: Bringing New Voices to the Canon

Evan Blaché is a non-binary choral com- Cristian Larios (he/él) is a composer,
poser and artist based out of San Mar- conductor, and educator from Joliet, IL.
cos, Texas. Never known to mince words, He currently teaches at Plainfield North
Evan has composed a lot of work com- High School and writes choral music that
bining the classical style with topics of centers storytelling and connection. His
social justice. They are currently in their undergradu- work has been performed by Tonality, SWIC Chamber
ate program at Texas State University for their bache- Singers, and others, with his piece In This House fea-
lor’s in music studies and composition while singing in tured on Tonality’s 2024 album America Will Be. Recent
the Texas State University Chorale under the direction commissions include Our Land (New Canon Project)
of Joey Martin and studying composition with Dr. Jack and The Good (William Ferris Chorale). Cristian holds
Wilds. Evan currently sings in the groups Tinsel Sing- degrees from Illinois State University and the Univer-
ers, San Antonio Chamber Choir, Inversion Ensemble, sity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and advocates for
and is an insight fellow in Conspirare. equity through music and education.

Brian Harris Jr. is currently a high school Juan-Carlos Mackay currently teaches
choir director in Waco, Texas. At Univer- high school and jr. high choirs in Utah.
sity High School, he serves as the assis- He earned a degree in music composi-
tant choir director for the University Tro- tion at Utah State University. Since then
jan Singers. Brian enjoys working with he has written for orchestras, jazz bands,
and meeting new people as a teacher and composer. and choirs. He’s even written for glass bottle ensembles.
Originally from Houston, Texas, he is a product of Encouraged by his wife, he has recently begun writ-
the Houston Independent School District and Wichita ing music for developing musicians and singers. As a
State University, where he earned a bachelor of music child of U.S. and Mexican parents, his favorite music to
education. write celebrates cultural heritages through a Classical
style. Juan-Carlos hopes that those who hear his pieces
feel a sense of hope and wonder about their world.
Taleya Jordan is a senior music educa-
tion student at Southeastern Louisiana
University, where she studies classical, Hugo Madera is a choral composer, con-
jazz, and musical theatre. She has per- ductor, and educator based in Nebras-
formed for Southeastern’s Mozart Op- ka. Born in Jalisco, Mexico, he brings a
era Scenes was a featured soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria at distinct Latin-American perspective to
First United Methodist Church of Hammond. She his works and is an advocate for social
has performed in productions with Swamplight The- change and the diversification of the choral canon.
atre such as “Oliver” (Mrs. Bedwin) and “Wilber’s His compositions have been performed by ensembles
Disco Inferno of Love” (Cabaret Performer). She such as Cantus, The Nebraska Festival Singers, and the
also competes in the Musical Theatre Division of the UNT University Singers. He leads choral activities at
NATS competition. Taleya owns “Cantante Music Adams Central Public Schools and is active with arts
Lessons,” where she helps both newcomers and sea- organizations across central Nebraska. Hugo holds a
soned performers achieve whatever goals they have. master’s in music education from the University of Ne-
braska at Kearney and a bachelor of music from Hast-
ings College.

36 CHORAL JOURNAL October 2025 Volume 66 Number 3