By: Daniel Nardini

[I now turn to American Latino composers. While famous in orchestra halls in the United States and around the world, they are virtually unknown to the general public here]

Ernesto Cordero is a Puerto Rican composer and world famous classical guitarist. Born in 1946 in New York City, he was raised in Puerto Rico when his parents returned to the island. While growing up in Puerto Rico, Cordero was heavily influenced by the musical traditions of his native island. Cordero was enrolled into the Conservatory of Music in Puerto Rico in 1963 where he learned composition. From 1961 to 1964 he first studied guitar under Jorge Rubiano and other guitar tutors in Spain. After completing his studies in Puerto Rico he went to the Madrid Royal Conservatory in Spain where he earned his diploma in 1971. He did his post-graduate work in Rome, Italy, with composer Roberto Caggiano from 1972-1974, and in New York City with Julian Orbon from 1977 to 1978.

Cordero’s works include eight concertos, a variety of chamber works, and numerous guitar solos. Among his best known solo guitar pieces are Sonata Italiana (1972), Concierto de Bayoan (1995), and Modern Times—volumes one through three (1986-1990), to name a very few. From 1980 to 1997, Ernesto Cordero was the music director of the International Guitar Festival of Puerto Rico. Since 1971, Cordero has taught composition and guitar in the music department of the University of Puerto Rico, and is constantly in demand for perfornances for concerts and solo guitar around the world.