Biography

Colombian composer and singer Laura Pacheco Nieto belongs to a new generation of artists who explore Latin American identity through a deeply poetic and contemporary musical language. Her work draws inspiration from nature, ornithology and the rich cultural traditions of the Andes, weaving these elements into concert music of remarkable imagination, refinement and expressive power.

She began her artistic training at the MISI School of Musical Theatre, where she studied music, dance and theatre for eight years. She later earned her degree in Composition from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, where she also completed a Diploma in Film Music Composition and received the University’s Order of Academic Merit in recognition of her outstanding academic achievements.

Her work has been recognized by some of Colombia’s leading musical institutions. In 2022, she won First Prize in the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra’s Women Composers Competition, and in 2023 she was selected as one of the winners of Plataforma 28, an initiative of the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Composition at the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University, and was one of only two composers selected to participate in the International Academy for Young Women Composers of the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris for the 2023–2025 cycle.

Her music is distinguished by its rich sonic palette and narrative sensitivity, creating a continuous dialogue between Latin American traditions, the natural world and contemporary musical creation.

As part of the Gabriel García Márquez Series at the XXI Cartagena Music Festival, Laura Pacheco brings a highly original compositional voice, transforming nature, memory and imagination into a musical experience of extraordinary beauty.