Isaias Elpes, MM

Applied Instructor; Adjunct Professor

Isaías Elpes is an award-winning composer, music director, and multi-instrumentalist from Brazil, currently based in Los Angeles. Known for his cinematic writing style and versatility. Elpes first gained international recognition after winning the grand prize on bass in Lee Ritenour’s Six String Theory Contest (2016) with one of his original compositions.

Since then, his work has spanned global tours, Grammy-winning recordings, and original film scores. He arranged and performed on Gloria Estefan’s 2021 album BRAZIL305, including the Grammy-winning track “Quando Hay Amor”, and currently serves as Pia Toscanos Music Director, overseeing arrangements and orchestration for her solo performances.

As a composer, Elpes recently scored the feature film Maloucos Contra o Ladrão de Sonhos, which premiered in Brazil in July 2025. His music has also been featured in the Globoplay series Todas as Flores, the Brazilian book trailer Os Continentes de Dentro, and the short film MANIFESTO, with additional placements on U.S. television including CBS’s Zoo and USA Network’s Rush.

Celebrated for his fluidity across genres, Elpes has performed live and in studio with artists such as Sergio Mendes, Gloria Estefan, Brian McKnight, Mateus Asato, Tiago Iorc, Jorge Drexler, Pia Toscano, Dave Grusin, Marcos Valle, and Lee Ritenour—to name a few.

In his solo work, Elpes draws on his classical training and Brazilian roots, crafting instrumentals that move between jazz, classical, and world music. With over 10 releases since 2020, his music has been featured on Spotify editorial playlists and praised for its blend of tradition and innovation, organically growing a global fanbase.

Education

MM, 2013
MA, Contemporary Performance, Shepherd University
Lato Sensu, Music Education, Faculdade Paulista de Artes
Conservatory Certificate, Music, Sauza Lima
BS, Accounting Sciences, Universidade Famina

Credentials/Certifications

Winner, Lee Ritenour’s Six String Theory Contest (2016)
Grammy-winning album credit – BRAZIL305 (Gloria Estefan)
Member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs) and Latin Recording Academy
Recipient, State Cultural Award – Minas Gerais, Brazil

Academic Area

School of the Arts

Expertise

Music Composition
Film Scoring
Bass Performance (Electric and Upright)
Orchestration and Arranging
Brazilian and Latin Music

Courses Taught

MUS 195 – Studio Orchestra
MUS 399 – Keyboard Ensemble
MUS 396 – Advanced Music Technology
Private Lessons – Bass (electric and upright)