Luis M.

Composition, Guitar, Piano

Luis M. (b.1997) is a Dominican-American guitarist, composer, and improviser whose work bridges diverse cultural and musical traditions. Raised in South Texas, a region rich in Mexican and Texan heritage yet marked by underdeveloped arts platforms, Luis’s early musical influences ranged from such artists like The Beatles, Cultura Profética, and Thelonious Monk. This environment fostered a deep commitment to using music as a means of community connection, activism, and beauty.

Luis sees the guitar as the instrument of the 21st century, capable of infinite textural, harmonic, and rhythmic possibilities. He approaches it not merely as a tool for melody and accompaniment but as a multidimensional medium for percussive interplay and compositional manifestations. In 2024, Moroccan guitar maker Tetro Guitars recognized Luis’s artistry by building him a handmade, custom guitar, gifted in exchange for his promotion of the brand. The instrument, which reflects Tetro’s cutting-edge craftsmanship, has become central to Luis’s creative work, inspiring new compositions and explorations.

Luis earned scholarships to attend Berklee College of Music (B.M., 2019) and Manhattan School of Music (M.M., 2023), studying with luminaries like Hal Crook, Julian Lage, Reiko Fueting, Mike Tucker, and Gilad Hekselman. His compositions, described by Julian Lage as “a beautiful sense of tonality and atonality,” have been featured in competitions such as the American Prize, MTNA, and IBLA Competition.

Performance highlights include Carnegie Hall with violinist Aisha Syed, composer Rafael Solano and collaborations with percussionist Samuel Torres, Felle Vega, and saxophonist Erin Rogers. As co-founder of the nonprofit Institute for Music Evolution, Luis spearheads programs like SoundBirth Festival, offering free music education to underserved communities in South Texas. His artistry blends activism and “ear candy”, using improvisation as a lens for dialogue and composition as a platform for collaboration. Through his work, Luis strives to connect deeply with audiences and advocate for political movements that foster collective class consciousness, materially challenge systemic oppressions, and envision a society rooted in true equity, international solidarity, and local sovereignty.