Danilo Prez Premieres New Work Honoring Architect Frank Gehry

Danilo P rez Premieres New Work Honoring Architect Frank Gehry Commissioned by the Herbie Hancock Institute, P rez performed The Ever-Changing World at its International Jazz Vocals Competition, held at the Gehry-designed Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris.

October 16, 2026

By

Madeline Bilis

Danilo P rez, founder and artistic director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute

Image by Pete Coco

As part of this year's Herbie Hancock Institute International Jazz Vocals Competition, the organization commissioned Berklee Global Jazz Institute founder and artistic director Danilo P rez to compose a new work honoring visionary architect Frank Gehry, who died in 2025 at age 96.

The competition, chaired and hosted by jazz legend Herbie Hancock '86H, is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious in the world, and took place outside the United States for the first time at Fondation Louis Vuitton, an art museum and cultural center in Paris. Designed by Gehry, the futuristic glass building features the architect's signature abstract, deconstructivist style.

P rez paid tribute to Gehry with the world premiere of The Ever-Changing World during the competition's gala concert on October 11 in a performance introduced by renowned Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel.

I wanted to capture the museum's movement and fluidity-not simply describe its appearance, but discover its spirit, P rez said.

Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, a landmark building designed by Frank Gehry

Image by Iwan Baan

P rez started by watching interviews with Gehry as the architect spoke about creating Fondation Louis Vuitton. I was fascinated by the rhythm and cadence of Frank's voice. As I listened to him speak, I began to hear music in his words, he said.

His connection to Gehry began in P rez's native Panama, where he composed music for the grand opening of Gehry's Biomuseo (Museum of Biodiversity) in Panama City. Later, P rez rehearsed at Gehry's home in Santa Monica, California, for the opera Iphigenia, which he said helped him appreciate how the architect thought about space, movement, and creative expression. (The opera, which was composed by Wayne Shorter '99H with libretto by alum esperanza spalding BM '05, featured P rez as pianist and Gehry as set designer.)

To compose The Ever-Changing World, P rez brought together influences from classical music, jazz, Panamanian traditions, and West African rhythms through a chamber jazz ensemble. I also translated a rectangular shape from his museum's architectural design into musical pitches, using the circle of fifths and geometry as a starting point for musical exploration, he explained.

The piece is meant to put global jazz and architecture in conversation. I hope listeners experience a constantly evolving journey, where the music opens doors to new possibilities, P rez said.

The ensemble featured P rez on piano along with Berklee-affiliated artists Terri Lyne Carrington (drums), artistic director/founder of Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice; Walter Smith III (tenor saxophone), chair of the Woodwinds Department; and John Patitucci (upright bass), visiting scholar in performance studies.

Watch the full performance of The Ever-Changing World, introduced by Gustavo Dudamel:

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Danilo P rez, founder and artistic director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute

Image by Pete Coco

Danilo P rez Premieres New Work Honoring Architect Frank Gehry Commissioned by the Herbie Hancock Institute, P rez performed The Ever-Changing World at its International Jazz Vocals Competition, held at the Gehry-designed Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris.

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