Chris Urquiagais a singer-songwriter, pianist, composer, music director, and producer from Silver Spring, Maryland.In August 2018, he released a Latin pop album called “I’m Here”. The album is available in CD form, on iTunes, and on all other music platforms. He performed the CD release concert for his “I’m Here” album at the historic Blues Alley in Washington, DC in August 2018.In 2017, he released an album entitled “Complete”, which consists of original pop songs in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. The album is available inCD formand fordigital download.Chris has performed in many different venues throughout the United States and internationally. Among the venues he has performed at are The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The White House, The Library of Congress, The United States Capitol, Strathmore, Signature Theatre, and Conservatorio Nacional de Música in Lima, Perú. At Signature Theatre, he has been music director and performed for the "Entirely Elvis" and "Judy Garland: A Star Is Born" cabarets. In 2017, Chris received the Montgomery County Hispanic Heritage Month Award in Maryland for his achievements in the performing arts and for his help in shaping his community. In January 2019, he was the featured performer for the Hispanic Swearing-In Ceremony for the 116thU.S. Congress which was organized by the CHCI (Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute). He also had the honor of being the featured performer for the Edward R. Roybal Gala which NALEO (National Association of Latino Elected & Appointed Officials) organized. He was an Artist in Residence at Strathmore for the 2016-2017 Season and during that season he performed sold-out concerts and conducted music education workshops there. He graduated from The Eastman School of Music in 2014, where he majored in Music Composition. During his time at Eastman, he recorded, performed, and wrote music for his own band, a cappella groups, orchestras, choirs, and various chamber ensembles. He has had interviews and live performances broadcast on ABC News, CBS News, C-SPAN, Fox News, Telemundo, Univision, and WUSA 9. He has performed the U.S. national anthem for NBA & MLB games and also for the international tennis tournament, Citi Open. In August 2013, he was invited to perform at The White House for the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington Commemoration, which was hosted and organized by President Obama and the First Lady. He has also performed for U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders, Chuck Schumer and Chris Van Hollen, U.S. Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Joaquin Castro, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, and Attorney General for the state of Maryland Brian Frosh.He has been commissioned by the Congressional Chorus, in Washington DC, to compose 3 original works; in 2012 for their 25th Anniversary Concert, in 2013 for a concert entitled “Shakespeare Sings”, and in 2016 for a concert entitled “Young, Hip, and Global”. In 2011, he was commissioned by world-renowned soprano, Carmen Balthrop, to compose two original compositions in Portuguese. He was also commissioned by the Prince George’s Philharmonic in 2013 to compose a piece as their featured season world premiere. In 2008, he received the Kennedy Center Award for Excellence in the Performing Arts.
