Esteban Ramirez Announces Collaboration
with Award-Winning Arranger Laurent Courbier
for Forthcoming Album Running with the Sun
April 2025--Celebrated neoclassical pianist, composer, poet, and A.I. digital illustrator Esteban Ramirez has officially signed acclaimed composer and arranger Laurent Courbier to arrange and orchestrate his upcoming fourth album, Running with the Sun, the first major step in the album’s production.
Courbier—whose award-winning compositions and arrangements span the worlds of film, television, and video games—will collaborate closely with Esteban to transform Esteban’s intimate piano compositions into orchestral scores. The arrangements will follow a piano concerto style supported by the dynamic textures and storytelling power of a 40-piece orchestra.
"I spent the last year searching for the right arranger, and when I heard Laurent’s work, I felt the same emotional core that drives my music," says Esteban. "His orchestral arrangements don’t just support a melody—they elevate it. I’m beyond excited to create something powerful and beautiful with Laurent."
Courbier brings an extraordinary resume to the table with accolades including the 2024 Hollywood Music in Media Award for his score to Honor of Kings, one of the world’s most-played and highest-grossing mobile games. His music has been performed by world-renowned artists such as Lang Lang, and his orchestrations have brought to life international projects for Netflix, Canal+, Warner Classics, and more. His ability to blend cinematic storytelling with classical artistry made him a natural match for Esteban’s vision.
“Esteban’s piano compositions have a lyrical purity and genuine beauty that spoke to me,” says Courbier. “Each piece is a window into Esteban's emotional world, with a unique story to tell. I'm excited to enrich that experience with all the beautiful colors and textures an orchestra has to offer so we can bring out the poetic essence of his music."
Thematically, the project explores the themes of love, longing, inner journey, culture and nature. The album is slated for release in summer 2026 and Esteban is currently laying the groundwork for an immersive live performance experience that brings together orchestral musicians, poetry, and visual art in a concert setting designed to engage audiences on multiple levels.
In the tradition of Esteban’s earlier releases, Welcome Home and Serenade to the Moon, the Running with the Sun album will also include a companion poetry book inspired by the music of this album—making his live performances a multidisciplinary experience that fuses music, poetry, and visual art. Esteban will personally illustrate the book using original A.I.-generated artwork, deepening his reputation as a multi-talented creative force working at the intersection of neoclassical music, spoken word, and digital visual innovation.