RHYS MACSEN CERóN
When I was little I played Go Tell Aunt Rhody in every key imaginable, and in every mood that I could think up. Mad, sad, haunted, silly, happy, staccato, super legato and Celtic (my grandma’s favorite) are some that I recall. It made me realize that music wasn’t just what the sheet music told me to play, it could be what I wanted it to be. This opened a profound door of discovery for me. I bolted, never looking back.
Today I believe in the healing power of music—the way faces soften, shoulders lower, and breathing slows as a melody fills a room. I compose to create those moments, whether in concert halls or coffee shops, because music should be like flowers on the roadside—a part of everyday life. Every piece asks the same question that little kid playing Aunt Rhody discovered: What if music could be exactly what we need it to be, exactly when we need it?
dreamwreck
Echoes of the Sirens’ Sea
String Quarter (two violins, viola, cello), 2025
Written for the 2025 Cleveland Institute of Music Composition Workshop with Jessie Montegomery, Creative Director and UMichigan’s MPULSE Composition Program with Professor Roshanne Etezady.
June 2025 Duration: 5:57
This piece is an exploration of myth, longing, and the innocence of dreams. The sirens are relentless spirits of the sea, haunting the waves with voices designed to break even the strongest will. However, the wise sailors are cradled in sleep, protected by wax in their ears as they drift through the night. The temptress’ song lingers and swirls around their silent voyage, desperately trying to break through. In this tension between an irresistible call and an unreachable listener, Dreamwreck captures the tragic beauty of voices fated never to be heard.
Celebración de Sonido
Mixed Ensemble, 2025
Duration: 4:25
A lively Colombian Festival on Stanford University’s campus during the summer of 2024 sparked the inspiration behind my latin composition, "Celebración de Sonido." Imagine the air pulsing with vibrant music, pulling people together to laugh, dance, and embrace each other. The syncopated beats of traditional Spanish instruments, the rhythmic clapping of hands, and the buzz of joyful conversation created an inspirational tapestry of sound. The infectious Latin energy that has captivated me for years flows freely through every note, bringing to life a piece of music that honors my Colombian roots and the unifying power of music. With vibrant melodies and intense rhythms, "Celebración de Sonido" captures the universally shared joy of music.
WAVES
PIANO SOLO, 2024
Duration: 6:04
During the winter months of 2024 I found myself at home longing for the warmth of the beach and the soothing sound of the waves. This desire was underpinned by a need for energy and movement, something lost in the frozen winter. I missed the washing-over-you feeling of the waves and that yearning inspired me to write Waves. This piece became my way of capturing the calm rise and release of ocean waves that had returned again and again in my daydreaming during those cold months. I recreated the peaceful rhythm of the waves, bringing coastal serenity to the bitter stillness of winter.
IN THE CANOPY
Classical Guitar Trio, 2022
Duration: 3:32
Puerto Rico’s El Yunque National Forest—filled with mesmerizing layers of foliage and humming with life—was the heart of my inspiration for In the Canopy. Hiking beneath an umbrella of greenery and tuning my ears to the many songs swirling around me was unforgettable. Sunlight filtering through the waving branches reminded me of the gestures of a grand conductor. Rhythmic calls of coquí frogs were the percussive metronome, sharply reminding everyone that there was a tempo. Short, spirited bird calls and shimmering cicadas paired with legato screech owls popped the melody while the rustling underbrush hum was a fine accompaniment. In that layered stillness, I heard a symphony—untamed, intricate, and deeply alive.
MEMORIES
PIANO SOLO, 2022
Duration: 3:05
I wrote Memories as a tribute to friends from an earlier place and time in my life. I wanted to capture how memories come back slowly and sweetly and how, at times, they can be so visceral that they bring tears to your eyes. This piece flows with a somber sense of loss and an undercurrent of wistful reflection. There is a brief moment of bitterness. Each note moves with a connectedness, slowly tracing the imprint we etch on each others’ hearts.
Memories captures the beauty of remembering.
Final 11
Mixed Ensemble (piano, strings, brass)
Written & recorded on Pro Tools, 2023
Duration: 4:03
Final 11 is my nod to the masters of the horns—the legends whose bold, pulsing lines can make a room move. It’s also for the listeners whose blood responds to rhythm, who can’t help but feel the pull of a deep, pulsing beat. I started with that beat—driven and relentless on piano—and built upward, layering strings and a wall of horns to create something intense, energetic, and unashamedly alive.
BLACK LOTUS
PIANO SOLO, 2018
Duration: 2:53
One of my very first piano solo compositions, this piece flowed out of me with out specific inspiration. In 2019 I entered this piece in the National Federation of Music Clubs Junior Composer Competition and won 2nd place in the 10-12 year old age group. I also received some encouraging feedback from the judges which helped me continue my journey as a composer.
Sunset’s REVELRY
Mixed Ensemble (piano, brass, strings, percussion), 2024
Written while attending Oberlin’s Sonic Arts Workshop, July 2024 Duration: 4:25
I visited the Caribbean as a young boy and will forever remember the vibrant gatherings on the beach at sunset. That mix of wind, waves and music inspired me to write a piece that I’ve named Sunset's Revelry. It’s a celebration of the sun, who has been hosting extraordinary evenings since the very beginning of time. She transforms the sky into a brilliantly evolving canvas of oranges, yellows, and reds, eventually leaving us with midnight blues. The colors are a perfect backdrop to the sounds of the surf and vibrant steel drums waifing through the wind. The collective energy of of those gathered for this event transcends the individual in the most beautiful way.
