Derlis A. Gonzalez is a film composer, orchestrator and conductor based in San Diego, California. Classically trained and building on 15+ years of music experience, he composes for filmmakers across the Americas and is an active member of the Screen Composers Guild of Canada and SOCAN.
My story as a film composer began in the most unlikely of places--in the outskirts of the captial city of Paraguay before telephones were commonplace and Hollywood catchphrases were household.
But as far as it was from the centre of the entertainment world, the all-powerful Star Wars was there. And with it came John Williams' iconic score. Playing triumphantly over the hum of my electric fan, his music transcended the language barrier and left an impression on me that's as strong today as it was those years ago. Right then, 7,000 miles from LA and without a good explanation for my mother as to why I wouldn't be studying something more practical, I decided to become a film composer.
As soon as I could, I started guitar lessons. Once my skills developed, I was accepted to Paraguay's National Conservatory of Music, where I studied Music Theory and History under Sonia Valiente and Classical Guitar under Tania Ramos while taking private lessons in Harmony and Counterpoint with renowned music educator Jose Luis Miranda.
My lack of career pragmatism was further fueled by late-night determination over pages of music theory, reams of hard work, and large doses of English lessons--and it paid off.
I was awarded the prestigious Bell Scholarship from Mount Allison University, where I earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition, studying Music Theory and History under Gary Tucker, Orchestral Conducting under Wesley Ferreira, and Composition under Alasdair MacLean. From there, I conducted the university's orchestra, and composed for various productions across Canada, the US, and Paraguay, some of which still hold a proud place in my reel.
Now I reside in the beautiful and sunny San Diego, California, where composing keeps me busy and my tools are never far away. I work on productions of all sizes throughout the Americas; you can learn more about individual films by visiting this page.
I'm really easy to get in touch with.
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I'd love to hear what projects you have brewing.