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Astrid Morales Torres, piano
Born in Mexico City, pianist Astrid Morales is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance at Arizona State University with Robert Hamilton. Astrid holds master’s degrees in Piano Performance, Piano Pedagogy, and a Performer’s Diploma in Piano from Southern Methodist University, where she studied with Joaquín Achúcarro. In 2012, she graduated from the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City, where she studied with Héctor Rojas.
Astrid won the First Prize at the 2014 General Concerto Competition at the Meadows School of the Arts in Dallas, TX. Astrid performed with the Meadows Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Paul Phillips. Morales made her solo debut when she was 8 years old at Opus 94.5 Radio Station in Mexico City. When she was 11, she was also a soloist with the Queretaro Philharmonic conducted by José Guadalupe Flores. Astrid has had an intensive soloist career and has performed with well-known orchestras and conductors such as: Mexico State Symphony Orchestra (Enrique Bátiz, Virgilio Valle and Gabriela Díaz Alatriste), Nuevo León University Symphony (Eduardo Diazmuñoz), Mexico City Philharmonic (José Areán), National Polytechnic Institute Symphony Orchestra (Alfredo Ibarra), Aguascalientes Symphony (Stephano Mazzoleni), Women’s Orchestra of Arizona (Livia Gho), among many others.
As a recitalist, Astrid has performed in the United States, Holland, Germany, Italy and Canada. In addition, Astrid has performed recitals in the most important venues in Mexico. Morales has been awarded several prizes and scholarships including the Actos de Confianza Grant from the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures 2021, the 2011 Youth Mexican Prize and Grand Prix to Exceptional Talents and Best Interpretation of Mexican Music at the Second National Piano Competition “Petrof – Symphony – Pearl River”.
Astrid has always been an active and passionate performer of Mexican music. She recorded her first CD “Rimero Musical” with music of the Mexican composer Ladislao Juárez. Furthermore, Morales collaborated in “El Oficio Mío” with music of the Mexican composer Armando Rosas. As an active chamber musician, Morales has collaborated with world-renowned musicians including cellist Andrés Díaz, violinist Matt Albert, among others. In 2018 and 2019, she also served as Fellow Pianist at the NorCal Music Festival.
Astrid Morales served on the piano faculty at the Community Music School and as Faculty Associate at Arizona State University. Morales has appeared in several TV shows, newspapers and radio interviews in Mexico, Italy, The Netherlands, and United States. Astrid serves as an active member of the Binational Cultural Forum of Mexican Artists and was a member of the 2021 National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (Pre-Conference). She was recently recognized as a Kawai Medallion Educator and currently serves as 4th Vice President of the Arizona State Music Teachers Association
Astrid M. Morales Torres – astridmusical@hotmail.com - 469.230.3521