Freddy Vilches is a composer, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and educator based in Portland, OR. Originally from Santiago, Chile, Freddy has performed extensively throughout the US and Latin America. He has recorded and performed with several Latin bands in the Northwest, and performs regularly with his own Latin ensembles.
His compositions have been featured by the Lewis & Clark Orchestra, the Reed College Orchestra, ACDA (American Choral Directors Association), Resonance Vocal Ensemble, and the Urubichá Orchestra in Bolivia, among others. His most recent works “Latin American Suite” and “Abya Yala Choral Suite” are starting to gain national and international recognition. His choral suite was recently performed by the NAU Choir in Arizona, and it’s scheduled to be performed in Santiago de Cuba in November, 2023. His orchestral compositions, including several movements from his “Latin American Suite” are scheduled to be performed in Cuba, Bolivia, and Chile later this year.
Freddy Vilches is working on several musical and interdisciplinary projects that seek to vindicate historically marginalized communities, and help establish cultural bridges among the people of Latin America and the US.
Freddy is an experienced teacher and workshop presenter, he holds a PhD in Latin American Literature from the University of Oregon. He joined the Lewis & Clark faculty in September, 2006, and is now an Associate Professor in the Department of World Languages and Literatures. He is an instructor of Latin American instruments (Charango, Venezuelan Cuatro, and Afro-Cuban Ensemble) at the Music Department.