LaRob K. Rafael

LaRob K. Rafael is a bass-baritone, curator, and arts leader working at the forefront of a national movement to expand and redefine classical music. He is the Director of Composer Advancement at the American Composers Orchestra, where he leads the organization’s EarShot initiatives, supporting composers through readings, commissions, residencies, and professional development in partnership with orchestras across the country. 

Rafael is the Founder and Artistic Director of Hearing in Color, a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to amplifying historically excluded voices through performance, commissioning, and community-centered programming. He is also the creator of Chroma, the organization’s resident vocal ensemble focused on new works by composers of the global majority. 

A sought-after speaker and collaborator, Rafael has worked with institutions including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the Grant Park Music Festival. A 2025 recipient of the Sphinx Organization MPower Artist Grant and a Sphinx LEAD alum, his work centers equity, storytelling, and the evolving future of American classical music.