Notes Newsletter Student Spotlight: Alejandro Belgique

Posted on March 6, 2025

In this special edition of Student Spotlight, we are highlighting one of our student composers, Alejandro Belgique.  Alejandro is an 8th grade oboist in PYP and has been working very hard in composing a piece, Ostinato, for the Winter Cadenza Series Concert on March 9th.

What first brought you into music?

My parents are both musicians so they kind of made me do music (I do enjoy it though!!). Specifically, I have always really enjoyed the oboe.

What got you into composition?

I got into composition through trying to transcribe video game music, specifically that of Mario Kart Wii, after I had become acquainted with Sibelius, the music notation software I use. I then started writing down almost every musical idea I had.

How did you come up with the ideas in your new work?

I initially came up with the ostinato that exists throughout the piece, and the rest of the piece kind of came to me from there, drawing a bit of inspiration from some of the music I was playing in PYCO at the time, such as Mahler’s 5th Symphony.

What is the structure of your piece?

The piece begins with a faster section featuring the ostinato throughout, followed by a slower section, which gradually transitions back to the material from the beginning. As the slower middle section progresses, the main ostinato is slowly re-incorporated into the music until it arrives at the recapitulation of sorts.

What should the audience be listening for when they hear your piece?

The audience should be listening for the repeated ostinato that starts from the beginning of the piece, and how it is used throughout the rest of the piece (whether it’s obvious or not).

Do you have any new projects coming up that you would like to tell us about?

I am currently writing a string quartet for Chamber Music Northwest, and a duet for violin and clarinet.