Quién es Sara Schell, la joven nominada al Latin Grammy al compositor del año

Sara Schell, a 23-year-old songwriter from Venezuela, has been nominated for the Latin Grammy Award for Composer of the Year in 2026, alongside veteran composers with extensive histories at the awards. This nomination also includes a nod for Best Pop Song as a co-writer of "A la niña que fui," performed by Kany García.

Schell’s unexpected ascent in the Latin music industry follows a shift in her life plans triggered by the global pandemic. Originally intending to study business in London after finishing high school in Venezuela, she instead moved to Mexico in 2020. With universities closed and a global lockdown in effect, she began sharing music covers on Instagram, which led to virtual songwriting collaborations via Zoom.

Her early musical training started at age four at the renowned Conservatorio Vicente Emilio Sojo in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, where she studied cello, piano, and singing. Her exposure to music included international performances representing her country. She wrote her first song at 15, inspired by a personal breakup.

Encouraged by her father to pursue music professionally despite an initial focus on a conventional education, Schell gave songwriting a two-year trial period. Her breakthrough came in 2024 during a brief visit to Miami, where she connected with industry professionals and secured sessions that ultimately introduced her to Nir Seroussi of Interscope, and later, Ben Tischker of Wide Eyed Entertainment, who became her manager.

Schell’s credits include songs performed by top Latin artists, such as Fonseca, Rawayana, J Balvin, Jay Wheeler, Diego Torres, and Manuel Carrasco. Notable chart successes among her works are “Si te vas,” which topped Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart, “Gabriela” by KATSEYE, which charted on the Hot 100, and “Ojos verdes” by Nicki Nicole, which reached number one on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100.

Her songwriting style blends emotional depth with genre-crossing versatility, exemplified by the bolero-inspired "PXTXS" recorded by Fuerza Regida. This song transformed traditional bolero themes into a contemporary regional hit.

The collaboration with Kany García on “A la niña que fui” stands out among her recent achievements. The song emerged from an insightful co-writing session wherein Schell suggested the concept of writing to one’s inner child, a creative spark that deeply resonated with García. This track earned its nomination for Best Pop Song, highlighting Schell’s expanding influence.

Despite launching some solo projects as a singer, Schell’s primary focus remains songwriting for others. She is signed to MPub and Wide Eyed Publishing and has expressed no intention of pursuing a career as a performer.

Her swift rise to prominence reveals a growing acceptance and recognition of young talent in Latin music’s competitive songwriting scene, which is often dominated by established veterans. Schell’s nomination places her alongside creators with multiple Latin Grammy wins, such as Edgar Barrera, Yoel Henríquez, Iván Gámez, and Jenni Mosello.

The nomination has had a profound personal impact on Schell and her family. She found out about the honor through a call from a fellow nominee and close friend, which caught her by surprise after a long day of work. Her father, who had been a steadfast supporter, expressed pride in witnessing her achievements unfold.

Looking beyond the nomination, Schell’s future collaborations appear poised to deepen her footprint in Latin music. She has expressed admiration for Franco De Vita, a fellow Venezuelan musician, as someone she would like to co-write with, indicating a connection to her musical roots.

Schell’s trajectory underscores the importance of adaptability and digital networking in artist development within the Latin music industry, especially during the pandemic. Her story highlights how emerging songwriters can pivot from traditional paths to achieve recognition on major platforms such as the Latin Grammy Awards.

As Schell prepares for the Latin Grammy ceremony, her nomination signals a new generation of composers gaining prominence and reshaping the landscape of Latin music songwriting.