Jaime Cortez is a talented and popular composer, arranger and performer.

Born in New York and raised in El Salvador, Jaime has dedicated a portion of his ministry to promoting better Hispanic liturgies and bringing cultures together for worship. His main instrument is guitar, though he is proficient in piano and other string instruments, such as charango, vihuela and bass guitar. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music composition from Arizona State University. He was named Pastoral Musician of the Year in 2016 by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM).

 

Some of Jaime’s best-known songs are “Rain Down,” “Somos el Cuerpo de Cristo/We Are the Body of Christ” (with Bob Hurd) and “Take Up Your Cross.”

He has released six solo collections with OCP, including Rain Down, Sacramentos, Adviento, Qué Alegría/I Rejoiced, Transformation, and Pueblo Unido/People United. His collaborative projects include Gracia y Amor/Grace and Love, a collection with Bob Hurd and Eleazar Cortés and Our Common Home, a project inspired by Pope Francis's encyclical, Laudato Si', featuring his song "Let Us Sing as We Go," along with music from several other well-known Catholic composers. Jaime has also translated Mass of Christ the Savior/Misa Cristo Salvador into Spanish and bilingual versions alongside Dan Schutte.

 

In addition to workshops, Jaime gives concerts with both English and Spanish repertoire, alone or with volunteer groups. He has many years of experience presenting workshops for Pastoral Musicians, catholic teachers and youth on liturgy and music. 

 

Jaime is currently Director of Liturgy & Music at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Scottsdale, AZ. He lives in Mesa with his wife and their three musically talented sons.