BIOGRAPHY

Arturo Márquez (b. 1950) is a Mexican composer who uses musical forms and styles of his native Mexico and incorporates them into his compositions. Marquez was born in Álamos, Sonora, Mexico, the first of nine children, and the only one to become a musician. His interest in music was due to his exposure to a variety of musical styles by his father, a Mariachi musician, and his grandfather, a Mexican folk musician. He started composing at the age of 16 in a music conservatory in Mexico then continued his studies later as a Fulbright scholar in California. His Danzones are the most widely-known compositions of his and are often used in ballet productions and symphonic concerts.