Alba Quintanilla

Alba Quintanilla (born July 11, 1944) is a Venezuelan composer, harpist, harpsichordist, pianist, singer, conductor, and pedagogue.

At age 10 she matriculated at the Escuela Superior de Música José Ángel Lamas, where she studied piano, harp, harpsichord, singing (soprano), composition, and conduction; her instructors there included Vicente Emilio Sojo, Raimundo Pereira, Juan Bautista Plaza, Gonzalo Castellanos Yumar, Evencio Castellanos, Cecilia de Majo, Evelia Taborda, Lidya Venturini, and Pablo Manelski.

Quintanilla was the first woman to conduct the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra on November 18, 1967, premiering her Tres Canciones para Mezzosoprano y Orquesta (Three songs for mezzo-soprano and symphonic orchestra),[1][2] which was awarded the National Music Prize that year.

She has also written chamber music and soloist works, especially for the piano, harp,[3] and trumpet.

[4] Her music has won over a dozen awards and prizes throughout her career, and she has also been honored with several Orders and Decorations.