The Fresno Philharmonic, and music director Rei Hotoda, are pleased to present the second cycle of Cultural Crossroads, our multi-season series of commissions exploring and celebrating the diverse cultures of the Fresno region. This season’s Cultural Crossroads features a new work by composer Juan Pablo Contreras, co-commissioned by ROCO (lead commissioner), Berkeley Symphony, Chicago Sinfonietta, and the Fresno Philharmonic.
Alma Monarca held its West Coast Premiere in Fresno on September 27 & 28, 2025.
a note from composer
JUAN PABLO CONTRERAS
Alma Monarca (Monarch Soul) is an orchestral work that captures my childhood memories of celebrating Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in Páztcuaro, Michoacán, where this Mexican tradition originated. My grandfather, Eduardo Contreras, was born in Pátzcuaro. When I was young, my family and I would visit his hometown to take part in the Día de los Muertos festivities. Alma Monarca is a sonic remembrance of these visits, inviting listeners to experience Día de los Muertos through music.
Our musical journey starts in Pátzcuaro. On the morning of November 1st, my family would arrive and explore the town, where the sound of brass bandas rehearsing for the evening filled the air. Around noon, we would take a small boat to the nearby island of Janitzio. We’d go to church and then spend the afternoon singing with mariachis and enjoying delicious food. As midnight drew near, we would gather at the cemetery to visit the graves of our loved ones.
The local Purépechas, an Indigenous group from Michoacán, spoke of a legend that said that when someone died, their soul would transform into a monarch butterfly on Día de los Muertos, starting their migration to heaven at midnight on November 2nd. My siblings and I would eagerly watch the sky, hoping to catch a glimpse of our great-grandparents’ “monarch souls” fluttering nearby as the clock struck midnight—and we always did! This magical memory, which marked the pinnacle of our Día de los Muertos adventure, inspired me to title this work: Alma Monarca.
—Juan Pablo Contreras, composer
Los Angeles, California
Above: Images provided by Juan Pablo Contreras of the Patzcuaro and Janitzio regions.
Premiered on November 2, 2024, at The Church of St. John the Divine in Houston, Texas, United States, by ROCO, conducted by JoAnn Falletta.