Composer/librettist, Carla Lucero, focuses on social justice and giving voice to silenced and marginalized communities. She gravitates to biographical stories that challenge long-held stereotypes, especially stories centered around women. Lucero and her critically acclaimed operas, Wuornos (2001 Yerba Buena Center for the Arts), Juana (2019 Opera UCLA), Las Tres Mujeres de Jerusalén (2022 LA Opera) and touch (2024 Opera Birmingham), have received grants and awards from OPERA America, Creative Work Fund, NEA, SF Friends of Chamber Music, Zellerbach Family Foundation and others. Her instrumental and choral works have been performed by internationally recognized choirs, orchestras and chamber ensembles. Lucero’s goal is to contribute to positive change with her work, which is oftentimes multi-lingual. She is currently commissioned for four upcoming operas: The Tower of Babel, LA Opera (second commission), ¡Chicanísima!, Quinteto Latino, Hello, Star, Opera Paralléle and Tea, Hawai’i Opera Theatre, and has one in early development, Muriel & Anita, a haunting true crime story that takes place in Napa, where she currently resides.
