Sergio Barroso (born in Havana, Cuba) studied piano, theory and organ with Alfredo Levi, César Pérez Sentenat, Edgardo Martín, and Alfredo Díez Nieto at the Havana National “Amadeo Roldán” Conservatory (1950-66). He did post-graduate studies in composition and theory with Václav Dobiás and Karel Janáček at the Superior Academy of Music (AMJ) in Prague, and privately with Alois Hába in 1966. He also studied conducting with Manuel Duchesne and Gonzalo Romeu at the Superior Institute of Arts (ISA) of the University of Havana and computer music with John Chowning and Jean-Claude Risset at CCRMA, Stanford University (USA).

Barroso’s works have been performed at music centres and events in the Americas, Europe and Asia including the Lincoln Centre (New York City); Kennedy Centre (Washington); Monte Carlo Theatre (Monaco); Ircam (Paris); Smétana Hall (Prague); Philharmonic Hall (Bratislava); Elizabeth Hall (London); Warsaw Autumn Festivals; Alicante and Manuel de Falla Festivals; Operas (Budapest, Helsinki, Warsaw, and San Francisco); Manila National Theatre, and São Paulo State Symphony Hall. His works have been broadcast by several national networks in Europe, and Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and throughout South and North Americas.

Has received numerous awards in Cuba, Canada, Europe, Latin America, and the USA including the Martyn Lynch-Staunton Award (2000); Cintas/Arts International (New York City, 1999); International Music Council (IMC) Rostrums of Composers (Paris, 1994, 1980), IMC Rostrums of Electroacoustic Music (TIME) (Helsinki, 1994; Oslo, 1990); IMC Rostrum of Latin American Music (TRIMALCA, Santafé de Bogotá, 1979); several national awards in Cuba (chamber music 1973, 74; symphonic music, 1974; choral music, 1974; electronic music, 1979).

Barroso’s music appears on the labels Areito, SNE, Centredisc, CBC Records, Bonk, Blue Note, and Empreintes Digitales.

As a keyboardist, he has primarily performed his own music and baroque music, although he has also commissioned and premiered several works for keyboard controlled synthesizers by Canadian composers. He has performed at the National Arts Centre (Ottawa), Ircam and UNESCO (Paris), South Bank Centre (London, UK), Pollack Hall, Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur (Montréal), Glenn Gould Studio (Toronto), as well as across Cuba and in Banff, Bourges, Brussels, Calgary, Kingston, Madrid, Mexico City, Miami, Oslo, Prague, Seattle, and Vancouver.

Barroso has taught composition, advanced polyphonic techniques and music history at Superior Institute of Arts (ISA) of the University of Havana (1975-80); counterpoint and orchestration at the Havana National “Amadeo Roldán” Conservatory (1968-80); and later on electronic music and FM synthesis at the Mexico City National “Carlos Chávez” Conservatory; Cuban and Latin American folklore courses at Simon Fraser University and composition and harpsichord at the University of Victoria (Canada). Has been director of the Music departments at the Havana National “José Martí” Library (1970-72), the University of Havana (1972-76), and the Cuban Ministry of Culture (1976-80), music writer for the Havana daily paper Juventud Rebelde (1975-80), and a broadcaster for the Cuban National Radio and Television Network (ICRT) (1969-80) and Vancouver Cooperative Radio (1985-90).

Barroso served as secretary-general of the Cuban section of the International Music Council (IMC) (1976-80). Sergio Barroso has lived in Canada since 1980.

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