Natalie Camargo Duarte
Born in 1996 in Bogotá, Colombia, Natalia grew up immersed in the vibrant rhythms of her homeland— cumbia, salsa, vallenato, bambuco, currulao—sounds that continue to shape her music. For Natalia, music is a language of connection and storytelling, a way to honor her roots while envisioning new possibilities. Now based in New York City, she reimagines these traditions through a bold, contemporary lens, weaving Latin American rhythms and melodies with contemporary Western classical influences. Her work celebrates multiculturalism while exploring themes of resilience, identity, and connection.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in music composition from Pontifical Xavierian University in Bogotá and a master’s degree in music composition from the University of Michigan, where she was awarded the Christine Eve Rinaldo Memorial Merit Scholarship. Throughout her educational journey, she was mentored by renowned composers and educators, including Evan Chambers, Michael Daugherty, Roshanne Etezady, Alvin Hill, Guillermo Gaviria, Julian Valdivieso, and Juan Carlos Britto. Their guidance helped her shape not only her artistic voice but also her vision for using music as a tool for social impact.
Her music has been performed by esteemed ensembles and collaborators such as The Flute Pedagogy Project, Transient Canvas, Black Moon Trio, the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra, TorQ Percussion Quartet, Nota Bene ensemble, Tana quartet, and the Colombian ensemble La Sociedad. Natalia is also an Alumna of the Soundstream RBC emerging composer's workshop and the International Summer Academy of music ( ISAM).
Beyond composing, Natalia is committed to fostering opportunities for artists to share their voices. As a Program Associate at the American Composers Forum (ACF),, she works on initiatives that foster creative expression. Her experience also spans arts administration roles at Carnegie Hall, the American Composers Orchestra, and National Sawdust. Currently, Natalia is working on a festival in New York City dedicated to emerging Colombian artists, creating a platform for cultural exchange and collaboration.
Whether collaborating on new works, administrating artistic initiatives, or reflecting on how art shapes our world, Natalia is driven by the question: How can the arts bring us closer together? In quieter moments, she dreams of ways to create change, bridging the traditional with the modern, and exploring the limitless possibilities of music to connect, heal, and inspire.
