Jose Vasquez (1895-1961)

Mexican composer and conductor. He studied at the National Conservatory in Mexico City the piano with Rafael Tello, and theory with Carillo. In 1921, he founded his own Escuela Libre de Musica y Declamacion where he taught until his death. In 1926, he formed the National University Symphony Orchestra, and as a conductor performed in Europe, South America, as well as was the first Mexican to conduct in Japan. He formed his own opera company called Pro arte patrio, which performed his works for opera as well as operas by other Mexican composers. The Suite para instrumentos de arco was awarded in 1927 a composition prize by the Congreso Nacional de Musica.