Born in Puerto Rico in 1953 Roberto Sierra was educated there graduating from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Puerto Rico. Further study ensued at the Royal College of Music (London), London University and the Institute for Sonology in Utrecht. He concluded his studies with Gyorgy Ligeti at the Hochschule fur Musik in Hamburg.
He was appointed the Director of the Cultural Activities department at the university of Puerto Rico and Chancellor of the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, and he continued to compose. Within seven years his reputation as a composer lead to his appointment as composer in residence to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. The success of his Milwaukee tenure lead to many performances in other American cities, and increasingly in Europe. A sampling of the orchestras that have played his music would include the orchestras of Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Houston, Minnesota, Detroit and the National Symphony Orchestra. Abroad the Festival de Lille, the Schleswig-Holstein Festival, the NeueMusik Bonn, the BBC, The Royal Scottish and the Festival Casals are some of the international venues at which Sierra's music was played. Leonard Slatkin and the BBC Symphony Orchestra will play 'Fandangos' at the opening concert of the world famous London Proms in July 2002. Impressive, and less common for a contemporary composer are the number of repeat performances his music enjoys. Since 1992 he has held the chair of composition at Cornell University. In 1993 he became a Subito composer. All his music since then has been published by Subito Music Publishing.
Sierra's music is deeply rooted in the Latin American tradition, full of color and brilliance, deep shadow and pulsating rhythm. However Sierra has taken his heritage into the mainstream of twentieth century western music, so creating music of substance and originality. Every new work of Sierra is a step further in the journey of discovery. He has the rare gift of remaining true to his roots while speaking in a universal language.