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Portrait of Carlo Ayhllón
Laureate

Carlo Ayhllón

Mexico

Composer who won the Absolute Prize at the Mozart International Music Competition, winner of the gold prize at The Beethoven Awards 2026 in Poland, winner of 1st place in musical composition at the following competitions: Bach International Music Competition 2026 in Poland, Erik Satie International Music Competition 2026 in the United Kingdom, Swiss International Music Competition 2024 in Lugano, Switzerland; winner in the Best Classical Music category at the InterContinental Music Awards 2023 in Los Angeles; winner in the Best Original Music category at the following festivals: Social World Film Festival 2023, New Jersey International Film Festival 2023; Feratum Film Festival 2017. Ciudad Madero International Film Festival, Fellini Film Festival, Berlin Kiez Film Festival, Florence Film Awards, Hollywood Gold Awards, London Indie Film Festival, Pantalla de Cristal, among others. Nominated three times for Best Original Score at the Ariel Awards of the Mexican Academy of Film Arts and Sciences for the scores of the films *Las elegidas*, *Las tinieblas*, and *El baile de los 41*, in 2016, 2017, and 2021 respectively. He recently filmed his debut documentary feature, *Mutación*, which has won more than 30 international awards for Best Documentary, Best Director, and Best Score.Selected to be a part of the group of orchestrators from Latin America at Hey, Mozart! in Washington 2010; he took part in the Latin American Contemporary Music Forum (FICUS) 2010 in Chile; in the world concert tours of Schola Cantorum de México in cities like Paris, Phoenix, Iowa, Chicago and Wisconsin, between 2011 and 2014. He also took part in the Moscow International Music Festival (2019.) Renowned Mexican composer and documentary filmmaker, with extensive experience in score for film, documentaries, and television, as well as concert music. His contemporary music has been interpreted in international festivals in Canada, Chile, Russia, the USA, France, Switzerland, El Salvador, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, and Mexico. As a classical guitarist, he has performed in concerts across the Mexican Republic, Switzerland, El Salvador, the USA, and France. Carlo directed his first documentary, Mutation, in 2025, which was has won different awards around the world. The world premiere of his musical work Mutación, a double concert for piano (with controller), electric guitar and orchestra took place on February 25, 2024, at the Nezahualcóyotl Concert Hall in Mexico City. It was interpreted by the OJUEM orchestra and conducted by Jeffery Meyer, and it received excellent reviews and was praised by the public. Recently, his debut film has won awards for best original music, best documentary director, and best documentary feature at the following festivals: Milan Indie Film Festival 2025, Hollywood Best Indie Awards 2025, Florence Film Awards 2025, London Movie Awards 2025, París Film Awards 2025, Hollywood Gold Awards 2025, Berlin KiezFilm Festival 2025.His work Noche del Alma for mixed choir was premiered in France, and is part of the album Aires del Anáhuac, with Mexican choral repertoire. His work Sekhudhikem for Pierrot ensemble was selected for the Record Production of Latin American Composers, premiered in Chile.

Latest Recognition
  • 1st Prize with Special Mention
COMPOSITION
Classical Music Stars — 3/2026
Awards & Recognitions

A timeline of recognition

Classical Music Stars — 3/2026
COMPOSITION
Mutación DOUBLE CONCERTO FOR PIANO, ELECTRIC GUITAR AND ORCHESTRA By Carlo Ayhllón Soloists Piano and controller: Fernando Saint Martin Electric guitar: Robbin Blanco … Mutación I. Arquetipo II. Meditación III. Transfiguración “Carlo Ayhllón’s double concerto for electric guitar, piano and orchestra, Mutación, is a piece that reflects his eclectic music style by embracing genres that go from rock and jazz to film music. Inspired by an amalgam of references that include King Crimson, Radiohead, Messiaen, and Alfred Schnittke, Ayhllón shapes a concert described as “free and emotive.” This piece reveals a deep connection with philosophy, by exploring Nietzsche’s three transformations of spirit, in which the spiritual development towards freedom is outlined. The first movement takes us to Jung’s archetypes. The music turns into a battlefield, where the self longs for its autonomy, but is eclipsed by a constant flow of patterns and beliefs. This is manifested through a frenetic, almost violent movement, which contrasts with a lyric section in which the guitar reveals the awakening of consciousness and the notion of freedom. Contemplation of human purity continues in the second movement, Meditación. The third movement confronts us with the transformation of the individual, going from wrath and violence to courage and renaissance. With special attention to balance between the soloists and the orchestra, as well as the exploration of timbres that are unusual in symphonic music, this concert takes us on an unavoidably introspective journey.”
  • 1st Prize with Special Mention
Performance →
Ravel Award International Music Competition — 1/2026
COMPOSITION · I
Mutación DOUBLE CONCERTO FOR PIANO, ELECTRIC GUITAR AND ORCHESTRA By Carlo Ayhllón Soloists Piano and controller: Fernando Saint Martin Electric guitar: Robbin Blanco … Mutación I. Arquetipo II. Meditación III. Transfiguración “Carlo Ayhllón’s double concerto for electric guitar, piano and orchestra, Mutación, is a piece that reflects his eclectic music style by embracing genres that go from rock and jazz to film music. Inspired by an amalgam of references that include King Crimson, Radiohead, Messiaen, and Alfred Schnittke, Ayhllón shapes a concert described as “free and emotive.” This piece reveals a deep connection with philosophy, by exploring Nietzsche’s three transformations of spirit, in which the spiritual development towards freedom is outlined. The first movement takes us to Jung’s archetypes. The music turns into a battlefield, where the self longs for its autonomy, but is eclipsed by a constant flow of patterns and beliefs. This is manifested through a frenetic, almost violent movement, which contrasts with a lyric section in which the guitar reveals the awakening of consciousness and the notion of freedom. Contemplation of human purity continues in the second movement, Meditación. The third movement confronts us with the transformation of the individual, going from wrath and violence to courage and renaissance. With special attention to balance between the soloists and the orchestra, as well as the exploration of timbres that are unusual in symphonic music, this concert takes us on an unavoidably introspective journey.”
  • Platinum Prize
Performance →
Haydn Online Music International Competition — 1/2026
Composition
Mutación DOUBLE CONCERTO FOR PIANO, ELECTRIC GUITAR AND ORCHESTRA By Carlo Ayhllón Soloists Piano and controller: Fernando Saint Martin Electric guitar: Robbin Blanco … Mutación I. Arquetipo II. Meditación III. Transfiguración “Carlo Ayhllón’s double concerto for electric guitar, piano and orchestra, Mutación, is a piece that reflects his eclectic music style by embracing genres that go from rock and jazz to film music. Inspired by an amalgam of references that include King Crimson, Radiohead, Messiaen, and Alfred Schnittke, Ayhllón shapes a concert described as “free and emotive.” This piece reveals a deep connection with philosophy, by exploring Nietzsche’s three transformations of spirit, in which the spiritual development towards freedom is outlined. The first movement takes us to Jung’s archetypes. The music turns into a battlefield, where the self longs for its autonomy, but is eclipsed by a constant flow of patterns and beliefs. This is manifested through a frenetic, almost violent movement, which contrasts with a lyric section in which the guitar reveals the awakening of consciousness and the notion of freedom. Contemplation of human purity continues in the second movement, Meditación. The third movement confronts us with the transformation of the individual, going from wrath and violence to courage and renaissance. With special attention to balance between the soloists and the orchestra, as well as the exploration of timbres that are unusual in symphonic music, this concert takes us on an unavoidably introspective journey.” Música UNAM
  • Platinum Laureate
Performance →
World's Best Musicians Competition — 1/2026
COMPOSITION
Mutación DOUBLE CONCERTO FOR PIANO, ELECTRIC GUITAR AND ORCHESTRA By Carlo Ayhllón Piano and controller: Fernando Saint Martin Electric guitar: Robbin Blanco I. Arquetipo II. Meditación III. Transfiguración Carlo Ayhllón’s double concerto for electric guitar, piano and orchestra, Mutación, is a piece that reflects his eclectic music style by embracing genres that go from rock and jazz to film music. Inspired by an amalgam of references that include King Crimson, Radiohead, Messiaen, and Alfred Schnittke, Ayhllón shapes a concert described as “free and emotive.” This piece reveals a deep connection with philosophy, by exploring Nietzsche’s three transformations of spirit, in which the spiritual development towards freedom is outlined. The first movement takes us to Jung’s archetypes. The music turns into a battlefield, where the self longs for its autonomy, but is eclipsed by a constant flow of patterns and beliefs. This is manifested through a frenetic, almost violent movement, which contrasts with a lyric section in which the guitar reveals the awakening of consciousness and the notion of freedom. Contemplation of human purity continues in the second movement, Meditación. The third movement confronts us with the transformation of the individual, going from wrath and violence to courage and renaissance.” UNAM
  • Outsanding Laureate
Performance →
Mozart International Music Competiton — 1/2026
COMPOSITION
Mutación DOUBLE CONCERTO FOR PIANO, ELECTRIC GUITAR AND ORCHESTRA By Carlo Ayhllón Soloists Piano and controller: Fernando Saint Martin Electric guitar: Robbin Blanco … Mutación I. Arquetipo II. Meditación III. Transfiguración “Carlo Ayhllón’s double concerto for electric guitar, piano and orchestra, Mutación, is a piece that reflects his eclectic music style by embracing genres that go from rock and jazz to film music. Inspired by an amalgam of references that include King Crimson, Radiohead, Messiaen, and Alfred Schnittke, Ayhllón shapes a concert described as “free and emotive.” This piece reveals a deep connection with philosophy, by exploring Nietzsche’s three transformations of spirit, in which the spiritual development towards freedom is outlined. The first movement takes us to Jung’s archetypes. The music turns into a battlefield, where the self longs for its autonomy, but is eclipsed by a constant flow of patterns and beliefs. This is manifested through a frenetic, almost violent movement, which contrasts with a lyric section in which the guitar reveals the awakening of consciousness and the notion of freedom. Contemplation of human purity continues in the second movement, Meditación. The third movement confronts us with the transformation of the individual, going from wrath and violence to courage and renaissance. With special attention to balance between the soloists and the orchestra, as well as the exploration of timbres that are unusual in symphonic music, this concert takes us on an unavoidably introspective journey.” Música UNAM
  • ABSOLUTE WINNER
Performance →
Fenix Award International Music Competition — 1/2026
Composition
Mutación DOUBLE CONCERTO FOR PIANO, ELECTRIC GUITAR AND ORCHESTRA By Carlo Ayhllón Soloists Piano and controller: Fernando Saint Martin Electric guitar: Robbin Blanco … Mutación I. Arquetipo II. Meditación III. Transfiguración “Carlo Ayhllón’s double concerto for electric guitar, piano and orchestra, Mutación, is a piece that reflects his eclectic music style by embracing genres that go from rock and jazz to film music. Inspired by an amalgam of references that include King Crimson, Radiohead, Messiaen, and Alfred Schnittke, Ayhllón shapes a concert described as “free and emotive.” This piece reveals a deep connection with philosophy, by exploring Nietzsche’s three transformations of spirit, in which the spiritual development towards freedom is outlined. The first movement takes us to Jung’s archetypes. The music turns into a battlefield, where the self longs for its autonomy, but is eclipsed by a constant flow of patterns and beliefs. This is manifested through a frenetic, almost violent movement, which contrasts with a lyric section in which the guitar reveals the awakening of consciousness and the notion of freedom. Contemplation of human purity continues in the second movement, Meditación. The third movement confronts us with the transformation of the individual, going from wrath and violence to courage and renaissance. With special attention to balance between the soloists and the orchestra, as well as the exploration of timbres that are unusual in symphonic music, this concert takes us on an unavoidably introspective journey.” Música UNAM
  • Absolute Winner
Performance →
BACH International Music Competition — 1/2026
Composition · I
Mutación DOUBLE CONCERTO FOR PIANO, ELECTRIC GUITAR AND ORCHESTRA By Carlo Ayhllón Soloists Piano and controller: Fernando Saint Martin Electric guitar: Robbin Blanco … Mutación I. Arquetipo II. Meditación III. Transfiguración
  • First Prize
Performance →
Beethoven Award International Music Competition — 1/2026
Composition
Mutación DOUBLE CONCERTO FOR PIANO, ELECTRIC GUITAR AND ORCHESTRA By Carlo Ayhllón Soloists Piano and controller: Fernando Saint Martin Electric guitar: Robbin Blanco … Mutación I. Arquetipo II. Meditación III. Transfiguración “Carlo Ayhllón’s double concerto for electric guitar, piano and orchestra, Mutación, is a piece that reflects his eclectic music style by embracing genres that go from rock and jazz to film music. Inspired by an amalgam of references that include King Crimson, Radiohead, Messiaen, and Alfred Schnittke, Ayhllón shapes a concert described as “free and emotive.” This piece reveals a deep connection with philosophy, by exploring Nietzsche’s three transformations of spirit, in which the spiritual development towards freedom is outlined. The first movement takes us to Jung’s archetypes. The music turns into a battlefield, where the self longs for its autonomy, but is eclipsed by a constant flow of patterns and beliefs. This is manifested through a frenetic, almost violent movement, which contrasts with a lyric section in which the guitar reveals the awakening of consciousness and the notion of freedom. Contemplation of human purity continues in the second movement, Meditación. The third movement confronts us with the transformation of the individual, going from wrath and violence to courage and renaissance. With special attention to balance between the soloists and the orchestra, as well as the exploration of timbres that are unusual in symphonic music, this concert takes us on an unavoidably introspective journey.” Música UNAM
  • Gold Prize
Performance →
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Haydn Online Music International Competition
Deadline · Sep 10, 2026
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Liszt International Piano Competition Online
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Ad Libitum International Piano Competition
Deadline · Sep 15, 2026
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