About James Tecuatl-Lee

I write the music I’d like to hear, often serious, but always with an element of play. I write for any instrumentation, but I have a special fondness for vocal music. In my career, I’ve had the privilege of writing for Ensemble Mise-En, Del Sol String Quartet, SF Choral Artists, and Sacred and Profane Chamber Chorus, as well as many local artists, family, and friends.

While studying music at Dartmouth College, I completed my first large scale work, a chamber opera called Hermaphroditus and Salmacis. I also experimented with free improvisation, with the encouragement of my professor, advisor, and friend, Kui Dong. 

After graduating with honors in music, I moved to Oakland, CA, where I wrote for several local choruses. Now I live in Austin, TX, where I am branching out into the music scene after a pandemic-induced hiatus from most musical activity. 

Making music accessible to a wide and diverse audience is important to me. I try to write with a basic musical vitality that all can appreciate, as well as the nuance and innovation that will allow even experienced listeners to continue finding meaning upon further listenings.