Cristina García Islas’s music reflects a broad palette of emotions, including self-acceptance and the blending of diverse influences, particularly Canadian and Mexican.
She also seeks to create a union between humanity and nature, likening orchestral composition to the meticulous construction of a cathedral. For García Islas, music is a means to express what words cannot and to share her gratitude with the community.
Her work, Ré_silience, draws inspiration from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8, a piece she would like to see more often in major orchestras’ repertoires due to its profound expressiveness and strength, though it is often overshadowed by Beethoven’s more famous symphonies. The title of her composition evokes the English term “silience,” which refers to an unnoticed, hidden talent, along with the prefix “ré,” suggesting the rediscovery of something long overlooked. Resilience, too, is the ability to overcome challenges and adapt—a theme that resonates strongly today and one the composer sought to honor.
Musically, García Islas draws inspiration from the repetitive rhythmic motifs of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8, which she reinterprets with expansive orchestration and a dense musical narrative. Her goal is to blend traditional elements with more modern textures, creating a unique language inspired by Beethoven’s expressive power.
