Berklee Student Nicolás Farias Wins 12th Annual peermusic Latin Scholarship
Porfirio Piña, Senior Vice President of the BMI Foundation and Director of the peermusic Latin Scholarship competition, has announced that Nicolás Farias is the winner of the 12th annual peermusic Latin Scholarship. Farias, a twenty-year-old native of Guatemala City and student at Berklee College of Music, received the $5,000 award for his song, “Que Los Mares No Se Enteren.” The scholarship was presented during BMI’s star-studded “How I Wrote That Song” panel at the Billboard Latin Music Conference in Miami, Florida on Wednesday, April 29, 2015. Honorable mention goes to Berklee’s Nora Zahera for her composition, “Petición.”
The peermusic Latin Scholarship was established in 2003 through the generosity and vision of peermusic CEO Ralph Peer II, for the purpose of encouraging the next generation of Latin composers. The contest is open to students between the ages of 16 and 24, who are enrolled in any college or university located in the United States and Puerto Rico. A $5,000 scholarship is presented annually for the best original song or instrumental composition in any Latin genre. For over a decade, the program has nurtured promising musicians who have gone on to distinguish themselves in the fields of television, film, recorded music, and concert performance.
The 12th annual competition featured multi-platinum bachata star Prince Royce as its spokesperson, and a judging panel that included Latin Grammy-winning producer Milton “Alcover” Restituyo; Billboard’s Executive Director of Latin Content and Programming, Leila Cobo; Broadcast Music, Inc.’s Director of Latin Writer-Publisher Relations, Carolina Arenas; and peermusic’s VPs of East and West Coast Latin Divisions, Julio Bagué and Yvonne Drazan.
“It is a true honor that such respected institutions as the BMI Foundation and peermusic have shown confidence in my work,” said Farias. “It is more than a rewarding feeling; as cliche as it may sound, words cannot describe how much I appreciate the support and recognition I’ve received. This serves as a remarkable acknowledgment of my work ethic, founded on humility and fervor, which I have acquired through being born and raised in Guatemala. Furthermore, this award is a catalyst: it gives me immeasurable energy to continue pursuing my creative and professional objectives. Finally, it demonstrates to my parents, who believe in my musicianship, that I am doing my best to make them proud.”
Born and raised in Guatemala, Nicolás Farias developed a passion for music at age 11, starting with piano lessons and later sharing the stage with top performers in the nation, including Viento en Contra and Luis Enrique. He currently studies contemporary writing, production, and engineering at one of the most prestigious music universities in the world, Berklee College of Music. For more information, visit www.nicofarias.com.
About peermusic
Founded by Ralph Peer in 1928, peermusic is a global network of music publishing companies operating from 33 offices in 27 countries, with well over a quarter of a million titles in the company’s catalogue, and songs that vary from country, blues, jazz, and pop to Latin, concert, and rock & roll. For more information, visit www.peermusic.com.
About the BMI Foundation:
The BMI Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1985 to encourage the creation, performance, and study of American music. The Foundation’s programs include competitive scholarships for songwriters and composers, operating grants for nonprofit arts presenters, and support for innovative music education initiatives in schools and communities across the country. Tax-deductible donations to the Foundation may be made on ourwebsite. For exclusive news and content, follow@bmifoundation on Twitter and like “BMI Foundation” on Facebook.