From NPR music and all songs considered, I'm Robin Hilton.

On Helika Negrone is a musician, she's from San Juan in Puerto Rico.

And her work probably isn't the first thing you imagine when you think Latin music.

She's a multi-instrumentalist and a composer, she writes for chamber ensembles,

in orchestras and choirs.

It's essentially classical or symphonic music, but really, it's so much more than that.

On this week's Alt Latino from NPR hosts Felix Contreras and Anomaria Sair,

talk with Nhelika Negrone about her work,

and how classical music has been a huge part of the Latin music universe.

Okay, on what kind of exposure have you had to classical or symphonic music?

Actually, a good amount, Felix.

I don't doubt it, you're well-rounded.

Well, I don't know that I'm well-rounded.

My parents are both huge classical music people,

and we all know Melita, you know, she sings in her very dramatic and perhaps slightly classical

leaning way.

And my other grandma was actually a concert violinist.

That's our automatic, like, the perception that Latin music is this one thing,

like my Latino music growing up in many ways was classical.

That's great because this week we're going to talk to a classical or symphonic music composer.

A very cool classical composer.

I mean, not your typical, like, I think we all have an idea of the image of the classical composer,

...