Aurelio de la Vega was born in Havana, Cuba, and adopted American citizenship in 1966. November 28, 1925 – February 12, 2022
He had an important influence on the music scene in the United States and Latin America. De la Vega, after studying with Ernst Toch in California (1947-1948), held relevant positions in Cuba: Dean of the School of Music of the Universidad de Oriente, Counselor of the National Institute of Culture, and Vice President of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Havana.
He toured the United States as a lecturer and finally settled in Los Angeles, California in 1959. He was Professor of Music and Director of the Study of Electronic Music at California State University Northridge (1959-1992). In 1971 he received the California State University system-wide Distinguished Professor award. Currently, he was Distinguished Professor Emeritus of this university, a member of the Academies of Arts and Letters of Chile, and of the Academy of Music of Brazil. De la Vega gave numerous lectures on contemporary and electronic music, as well as on Latin American art.
His list of compositions includes symphonic pieces, chamber music, piano solos, solo instruments on tape, song cycles, cantatas, ballet music, guitar solos, and electronic music. His compositions have been performed by the best symphonic and chamber orchestras, and by important soloists and singers in numerous cities in Cuba, the United States, Europe, Israel, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Japan, Puerto Rico, and India. His compositions have been recorded by prestigious firms such as Panart, Orion, Avant, Crystal, and Opus One, among others.
De la Vega received a large number of distinctions, prizes, and work commissions, among others the Friedheim Award from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, 1978 and 1984), the William B. Warren Lifetime Achievement Award (Cintas Foundation, New York, 2009), the Heritage Award (Cuban Cultural Heritage, Miami, 2004), the Cuban Cultural Excellence Medal (San Carlos Institute, Key West, 2006), and the 2016 NACAE Educator of the Year Award. He was nominated for the Latin Grammy Award in the category of Best Classical Composition (Las Vegas, 2010 and 2012). De la Vega received honors from the governments of several countries, such as the Medal of the Order of the Economic Society of the Friends of the Country, (Cuba 1956), the Medal of the Eloy Alfaro Order (Colombia, 1961), the Medal of the Order del Sol (Peru, 1969) and the Medal of the Order of Vicente Emilio Sojo (Venezuela, 1985). His death represents a great loss for the Cuban culture and for classical music.
#NACAE hereby sends a heartfelt message of condolence to his widow, the noted soprano Anne Marie Ketchum. May our colleague rest in peace
Rebel with a Cause https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW1xjTO-v-E https://www.youtube.com/wat…