Filipino-American composer Carlos Lalonde (b. 2001) is an internationally performed artist whose eclectic catalog spans introspective chamber music to electrifying orchestral, wind band, and choral works. Deeply interested in creating thought-provoking art through music and sound, Carlos explores themes of identity, human emotion, the natural world, science, spirituality, and society. Their art often reflects the ever-changing world, traversing time both retrospectively and prospectively to engage with ideas that demand careful reflection or bold prediction.

Carlos attributes their passion for composition to the nurturing guidance of their musical mentors and teachers. As they move through life, Carlos weaves threads of lived experience into their music, aiming to create works that resonate with listeners—inviting others to consciously or subconsciously feel and reflect on these ideas.

Collaboration lies at the heart of Carlos’s creative process. Inspired by interdisciplinary influences, Carlos thrives on working with performers, directors, conductors, fellow artists, and all those who bring art to life. Without these collaborators, their art would not exist. Carlos’s prerogative is to share their work enthusiastically and unapologetically with the world.

Their music has been recognized, performed, and commissioned by top collegiate and professional ensembles across the United States and Europe, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Carlos’s works have earned acclaim, with recent composition awards from the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, ASCAP, the Alabama Orchestra Association, the Illinois Music Education Association, and Cantus Vocal Ensemble. They have held residencies with GTCYS, the Bach Society of Dayton, and served as composer-in-residence for the 2022 Alabama All-State Orchestra Festival.

As a pedagogue, Carlos has twice presented at the Illinois Music Educators Conference, had their music selected for permanent inclusion in the South Carolina Music Educators Association (SCMEA) Concert Performance Assessment repertoire, and received the Dean’s Award for pedagogical research at Bradley University’s Scholarship Exposition. Their command of educational music has led to multiple publications with Carl Fischer Music and North Star Music, including several Editor’s Choice distinctions on J.W. Pepper. Carlos also maintains a private studio and fosters a community of composers through their YouTube channel, which has thousands of active subscribers.

Carlos’s art stands on the shoulders of those who came before them. They draw inspiration from active participation in the world and engagement with art beyond their own, focusing not on being a trailblazer or a traditionalist, but on sharing an individual voice—a synthesis of everything that has become a part of them.

Carlos holds a bachelor’s degree in music composition from Bradley University and is pursuing a master’s degree in composition at Michigan State University. Their mentors include Rachel Finnes, Lynnsey Lambrecht, Mark De Zwaan, Cory Boulton, David Biedenbender, Viet Cuong, and Zhou Tian.