Wilfrido Terrazas

Wilfrido Terrazas
Background information
Born1974 (age 51–52)
Camargo, Chihuahua, Mexico
OriginMexico–United States border
GenresContemporary classical; experimental; improvisation
OccupationsFlutist; composer; improviser; educator
InstrumentsFlute; voice; percussion
Years active1990–present
LabelsÁpice; Cero Records; New Focus Recordings; Transvection Ltd.

Wilfrido Damián Terrazas Pérez (born 1974) is a Mexican flutist, composer, improviser, and educator.[1][2] He is connected to the music scene of the Mexico–United States border and has been a professor at the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) since 2017.[2][3]

Early life and education

Wilfrido Damián Terrazas Pérez was born in Camargo, Chihuahua, Mexico, in 1974.[1][4] He first came into contact with musical instruments during his teenage years; he began playing the flute in 1990, at age 15.[1] He studied at the Center for Musical Studies of the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC) and later at the Conservatorio de las Rosas from 1996 to 2000, in addition to pursuing further studies in San Diego, California.[1] He later pursued graduate studies at National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) from 2004 to 2006. He graduated with a thesis on Mexican works featuring improvisation in 2021.[5]

Career

Ítaca

The album Ítaca was released by Cero Records, with an official release date of 1 December 2020.[6] In 2021, San Diego Reader reported that the album was recorded at UC San Diego in January 2019 and later mixed and mastered in Mexico City by Ramón del Buey before being published by Cero Records in December 2020.[7]

Sequenza21 described Ítaca as a ten-track album for solo flute, exploring a variety of sonorities and extended techniques, with references to Greek epic.[8]

The Torres Cycle

In 2022, The Torres Cycle was released on New Focus Recordings, described by the label as a seven-part work.[9]

My Shadow Leads the Way

In 2022, My Shadow Leads the Way was released by Transvection Ltd.[10] In a review, Foxy Digitalis noted that the album uses texts by poet Ricardo Cázares and that Terrazas alternates between Spanish and English in the vocals, along with flute and percussive resources.[11]

Wilfrido Terrazas Sea Quintet

Nexos magazine mentioned the Wilfrido Terrazas Sea Quintet and recorded its lineup as Iván Trujillo (trumpet), Edwin Montes (guitar), José Solares (saxophone), and Abraham Lizardo (drums).[1] In 2018, the ensemble released the album Pirate Songs (Ápice, 2018).[12]

Selected Discography

  • Pirate Songs — Wilfrido Terrazas Sea Quintet (Ápice, 2018).[12]
  • Ítaca (Cero Records, 2020).[6][7][8]
  • The Torres Cycle (New Focus Recordings, 2022).[9][10]
  • My Shadow Leads the Way (Transvection Ltd., 2022).[11][12]
  • Seven Gifts — with Kyle Motl (2024)
  • Trilogía del Dolor (Trilogy of Pain) (2026)[13]

Reception

Sequenza21 reviewed Ítaca, highlighting its exploration of extended techniques and its reference framework in Greek epic.[8] Foxy Digitalis reviewed My Shadow Leads the Way, describing its integration of poetry (Ricardo Cázares), voice, and instrumental elements.[14] KPBS featured one of the pieces from The Torres Cycle and described its overall structure (the “tower” and “totem” works), as well as its production between UC San Diego and Mexico City.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Ibañez, Estefania (29 November 2017). "Improvisación estilo Wilfrido Terrazas". Nexos (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Wilfrido Terrazas". University of California San Diego. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  3. ↑ Bush, Robert (20 December 2018). "To un-flute the flute". San Diego Reader. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "Terrazas Pérez Wilfrido Damián". Secretariat of Culture (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  5. ↑ Terrazas, Wilfrido (2021). "Tesis Digital". National Autonomous University of Mexico (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Wilfrido Terrazas – Ítaca". Cero Records (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  7. 1 2 Bush, Robert (3 June 2021). "Wilfrido Terrazas' flute flight to Baja". San Diego Reader. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 Muller, Paul (2 March 2021). "Wilfrido Terrazas - ĺtaca". Sequenza21. Archived from the original on 11 December 2025. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Wilfrido Terrazas: The Torres Cycle". New Focus Recordings. Archived from the original on 16 December 2025. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 Evans, Julia Dixon (4 May 2022). "5 songs for right now: Serbian/Henshaw, Nomis, Kaye/Davis, The Inflorescence and Wilfrido Terrazas". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  11. 1 2 "My Shadow Leads The Way, by Wilfrido Terrazas". Bandcamp. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 Franco, Sebastián (20 August 2018). "Wilfrido Terrazas Sea Quintet y 'Las canciones del pirata'". Revista Marvin (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  13. ↑ "Wilfrido Terrazas: Wilfrido Terrazas: Trilogía del Dolor | Catalogue". New Focus Recordings. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  14. ↑ Rose, Brad (21 July 2022). "Wilfrido Terrazas "My Shadow Leads This Way"". Foxy Digitalis. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
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