Laura Pacheco Nieto

Laura Pacheco Nieto is a Colombian composer and singer from Bogotá whose work is shaped by a deep interest in ornithology and the cultural richness of Latin America, particularly the musical traditions of the Andean region. Her compositions often weave together rhythmic and melodic elements inspired by these influences, creating a distinctive and personal sound world.

She began her formal training at the MISI Escuela de Teatro Musical, where for eight years she studied music, dance, and theater, performing in various productions that fostered her interest in ballet and multidisciplinary performance. In 2017, she entered the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana to pursue a degree in music with a concentration in composition. There, she expanded her artistic vision, completing a Diploma in Film Music Composition and an Orchestration Course, and was awarded the Order of Academic Merit for her outstanding academic achievements.

Her work has been recognized by leading institutions in Colombia. In 2022, she won first prize in the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra’s Composition Prize for Women, and in 2023 she was selected as one of three winners of the Colombian National Symphony Orchestra’s Platform 28 prize. She has also participated in the Tierra de Aves workshop organized by EARS Composers, in collaboration with the Vasto Ensemble and the Uniandino Ornithology Group.

Pacheco is currently pursuing her master’s degree in composition at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where she studies with composers David Dzubay and Aaron Travers. She was also one of two composers selected for the International Academy of Young Women Composers of the Paris Chamber Orchestra during its 2023–2025 edition.