Leonardo Balada

Leonardo Balada Ibáñez (born September 22, 1933) is a Catalan American classical composer, who is noted for his operas and orchestral works.

[2] Balada's notable students include John Zorn (who studied with him at the United Nations International School), Hankus Netsky and Victor Padilla.

Balada felt a need for a change again in 1975, his work from then onward being characterized by the combination of folk dance rhythms with the avant-garde techniques of the previous period.

Harmonically, Balada's mature period work displays a combination of the tonality of folk music with atonality.

No matter the stylistic phase, Balada's music features extensive rhythmic variance and unique orchestration, often in service of a haunting atmosphere.