Winner's Speech | Adrian Guajardo Santos | Composition | Bach International Music Competition UK 2026
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Huge congratulations to Mexican composer Adrian Guajardo Santos on his outstanding achievement at the 17th Bach International Music Competition UK (26 February – 26 May 2026)! He was awarded the prestigious Absolute First Prize in the Original Composition category for his brilliant piece, Piano Sonata in G minor No. 3, "Death is Wrong".
Hear directly from Adrian Guajardo Santos as he reflects on his award-winning composition and the spirit of love and faith behind his craft:
"Hello there. I am Adrian Guajardo Santos from Mexico. I was born in a city very close to the Texas border named Pedras Negras. First of all, it's a great honor for me to receive the absolute first prize for original composition in the Bach international music competition UK. I am very grateful to my fellow musicians who participated at such a high artistic level and whose work inspired me to be a better composer. I'm also very grateful to the scientists and writers from the life extension community like Gennady Stolyarov II and Dr. Aubrey de Grey whose wonderful contribution in both philosophy and scientific literature has made possible the original idea behind the creative process of my awarded Piano Sonata in G minor Dead is Wrong. For me composition is the act of faith that brings the inner voice into sound. It is the belief that when we pour our deepest convictions into music, they will find their way to another human heart. It is the risk of sitting before an empty page trusting that something honest will emerge that it will work and that it will touch and move someone."
"My compositional vision is greatly inspired both by Johann Sebastian Bach and Olivier Messiaen whose composition work was not only a profession but also at the bon where they tried to sing words of God, translated into sound and also translated in whatever any human being believes to be a beautiful act of love pushed but to the extreme. This reminds me of one of the most beautiful, devoted, selfless and extraordinary translations which is a mother's love. In my case, I am deeply grateful for my dearly beloved mother whom I love madly and I am infinitely grateful for all her support and her truly special and incredible way of believing in me. I want to encourage everybody who is watching my speech to believe in yourself, and to have faith in music as the spiritual language of emotion of your inner voice that is speaks before words. Thanks again for this wonderful award and thanks to everybody that makes possible the Bach international music competition UK."
The Bach International Music Competition UK is a global online contest recognising excellence in all instruments, ensembles, voice, conducting, composition, and recordings—honouring talent, dedication, and achievement in music. 🥇Apply now: www.bachmusiccompetition.com
