José Enrique Pedreira

Jose Enrique Pedreira (February 2, 1904-January 6, 1959) born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was a renowned composer of Puerto Rican danzas.Pedreira was born into a family that formed part of San Juan's "High Society" who sent him to the best known private schools on the island and from a young age gave him private music lessons. In 1922 he graduated from high school and was sent to New York City, by his parents, to continue his musical education. Here he enrolled in the music school of Segismundo Stojowski where he learned piano and music composition. It was here that he met a fellow student who was also to become his wife, Alicia Hutchinson.

In 1932, he returned to Puerto Rico with his wife and established the Pedreira Academy of Music in San Juan. Together with his wife (a violinist) he gave piano and violin lessons. During his spare time he composed music and danzas for piano, violin and cello. Among his compositions are the following:

* "Caricias" (Your tendertouch)
* "Siempre" (Always), dedicated to Juan Morel Campos
* "Valses de Concierto" (Concert Waltzes)
* "Jardin de Piedra" (Garden of Rock) - a ballet
* "Concert for Piano and Orchestra"
* "Elegía India, Poema y Souvenir"
* "Enseuño de Marta" (Martha's Dream)
* "Encanto"
* "Colibri"

Pedreira received many awards and recognitions during his lifetime. Some of the institutions that honored him were:

* The University of Puerto Rico
* The Puerto Rican Athenaeum
* The Juilliard School of Music
* The Women's Civic Club of San Juan

Jose Enrique Pedreira died on January 6, 1959 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In 1985, Pedreira was posthumously inducted into the Danza Composers Hall of Fame located in the town of San German, Puerto Rico.

ee also

* List of famous Puerto Ricans

External Reference

You may listen to "Siempre" by Jose Enrique Pedreira: [http://www.ladanza.com/siempre.htm Here]