Musicians, composers and singers
(Arranged by date of birth)

Classical music

Guillermo Uribe Holguín (1880-1971) – Musician and orchestra conductor.
Maestro Uribe Holguín studied music in Bogotá, Paris, and Brussels.
He was the founder and conductor of the National Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra. He brought the academy up to the level of Conservatory and created the Concerts Society Orchestra. He was appointed honorary director of the National Symphony Orchestra and made an honorary professor of the National University of Colombia.
He received many honours and decorations such as the "Order of the Legion of Honour in Degree of Cavalier, awarded by the French government, the "Cross of Boyacá", and the "General Santander Civic Medal" offered by the Government of Colombia.

Fabio González Zuleta (1920-2011) – Composer.
One of the most important composers of classical music in the country, González Zuleta, was the author of symphonies, sonatas, and rhapsodies. In 1965 he composed "Electronic Try Out", the first electro-acoustic piece produced in Colombia.
His works including Five Pieces for Sextet, Seraphic Concert, Symphonies Number 4 and Number 7, and Overture of Inauguration, have been played by some of the most important orchestras of several countries.
The Maestro was the director of the Conservatory of Music and Vice-Dean of the National University Faculty of Arts.
In 2003, he received the title of Honorary Professor of La Sabana University from the Conservatory of Music in honour of his wonderful work.

Carmiña Gallo (1939-2004) – Singer of folkloric and lyrical music.
The soprano, who achieved worldwide renown, was the creator of the Opera Foundation of Colombia and the founder and director of several choirs.
She studied music and singing at the National Conservatory of Colombia and earned degrees in singing and lyrical art in Italy.
Gallo was a professor of singing at the National University Conservatory. She was selected by UNESCO to be the soloist at the closure of the "European Year of Music" and represented Latin-American lyrical art in Poland.
She received many awards, not only in Colombia, but also in several other countries.
Her best Colombian music album was recorded by the OAS. She was considered as one of the most complete and outstanding Colombian singers.

Eduardo Carrizosa – Orchestra conductor and composer.
A director of the Department of Musicology of the 'Escuela Superior de Música' music school in Tunja, Carrizosa was also the titular director of the National Band, conductor of the Symphonic Band of Bogota and the 'Giuseppe Verdi Association' choir.
Maestro Carrizosa has conducted several orchestras including, the Symphony Orchestra of Colombia and The Philharmonic of Bogota. He has also been the special guest of several national and international orchestras. At present, he is the artistic director of the National Association of Symphonic Music.

Blanca Uribe – Pianist and soloist.
This acclaimed pianist began her musical studies in Bogota. At the age of 11, she made her debut with the Symphony Orchestra of Colombia. She travelled to the United States to continue her studies and subsequently went to Austria to study at the Vienna Conservatory. She earned a master's degree in music from the Juilliard School in New York.
Blanca Uribe has given recitals throughout Latin America, The United States and Europe and has been a soloist with prestigious orchestras such as the Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras of Colombia, the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, the Philharmonic Orchestra of London (England), the Residentie Orkest of The Hague (Holland), the symphony orchestras of Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Mexico and Philadelphia.
Amongst the many awards she has received, are the Star of Antioquia, the Francisco de Paula Santander Medal and the Order of San Carlos. In 1997 she was honoured with the degree Doctor Honoris Causa in Music from Universidad del Valle. She was awarded a Gold Medal by the City of Medellín, and in 2007 she was honoured with the Albeniz Prize by the Albeniz Foundation in the city of Camprodon, Spain.

Valeriano Lanchas – Opera singer.
Baritone Valeriano Lanchas studied at the Philadelphia Institute of music in the United States.
He made his international debut in the opera Tosca, at the side of Luciano Pavarotti. Shortly after, he sang together with Plácido Domingo. He has performed in operas in the United States, Europe, and South America and has offered recitals in the most important cities of the world.
He was awarded the "Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition Prize", "Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation", "Plácido Domingo´s Operalia", and the "XXXIV Toti Dal Mount". Recently, Plácido Domingo presented him with the "Artist of the year" prize offered by the Washington National Opera.
As homage to Colombia he recorded the music album "Todo Vale", a mixture of classical and folkloric music. Lanchass was born in 1976.

Folk and Popular Music

Emilio Murillo (1880-1952) – Composer, pianist and 'tiple' player.
A great musician and promoter of the Colombian folkloric music, Murillo was decorated with the Cross of Boyacá in 1935 and has received numerous other awards. His best-known compositions are perhaps El Trapiche, Gualanday, El guatecano Noches Bogotanas, and Rumichaca. The musician founded the "Murillo Academy" where free music lessons were offered. Some historians locate his place of birth in Guateque (Cundinamarca). Somo others say he was born in Bogota.

Alejandro (Alex) Tovar (1907-1975) – Musician.
Tovar was a composer, arranger, and interpreter of popular and classical music.
He was a violinist, saxophone player and pianist for the Symphony Orchestra of Colombia and was part of the Lucho Bermúdez popular music orchestra. He founded and directed several popular music bands such as Alex Tovar and His Orchestra and the Ritmo Orchestra

Folk and Popular Music

Berenice Chávez (1920-2007) –­ Folk music singer.
This outstanding regional music singer, known as the “Queen of Colombian Song” was a great promoter of Andean rhythms.
She started singing at an early age with a duet called "The Chávez Sisters", which she sang with her sister Cecillia.
Berenice received many honours and awards during her artistic life, including the "Applause to Art 2006" prize, which was presented to her during a show in her honour at the Colón Theatre of Bogota. She was born in 1920.

Álvaro Chaparro Bermúdez " Álvaro Dalmar" (1925-1999) –­ Composer.
Dalmar was an author of folkloric music, religious hymns, and pieces for the guitar.
His many compositions include the songs Amor se Escribe con llanto, Bésame Morenita, Lágrimas, Tan Lejos, and Di Que No Me Quieres . In 1992 he received the 'Applause to Art'' prize and several of his musical compositions have received the "Platinum Prize".
In 2002, the directors of the Mono Nuñez National Festival paid a posthumous homage to him.

Víctor Hugo Ayala – Singer.
The great tenor, Victor Hugo Ayla , has received prizes and worldwide recognition. His music productions have been abundant. Some of the songs that brought him great fame, including, Camino Verde, La Quiero Porque la Quiero, and Si Te Vuelvo a Besar, are found in his "Album de Oro". Ayala has been one of the best singers of the National Anthem of Colombia. He was born in 1934.

Gladys Caldas Méndez "Claudia de Colombia" – Singer and actress.
A famous singer of popular music, Claudia de Colombia is a woman of great beauty and a well-known movies actress.
She has been awarded the "Simón Bolívar" medal, “The Prince of Gold”, the "Antenna Prize for Dedication", twelve gold records and a platinum record in Colombia. Internationally she has won the "Ondra Prize 1972" in Spain, the "Gold Canaima", the "Gold Maradi" in Venezuela, and for three consecutive years, the ACE Prize in New York. She was born in 1952.

Ernesto Ocampo "Teto Ocampo" – Musician.
The guitarist and composer Teto Ocampo began his music studies in Bogota, with courses of classical guitar and music and culminated them in California, United States.
He was a producer, composer, arranger and musical director of the band of Carlos Vives co-director of the 'Bloque' rock music band and has been part of the jazz bands Manguala and Barahunda.
His first individual work called "Teto" is a completely acoustics production with an influence of Colombian rhythms. Ocampo was born in 1969.

Juan Fernando Fonseca "Fonseca" – Composer and singer.
Fonseca is a new popular music star with his own style, which is considered to be a mixture of vallenato, cumbia, and Latin American pop music.
At the " Premios Nuestra Tierra 2007" competition, he was the winner of The Best Artist of the Year, The Best Album of the Year, and his song 'Te mando flores', won the Best Song of the Year.
In 2006 he was the winner of "Lo Nuestro" Grammy Award and previously he had received the Billboard prize at the Latin American Music Awards in the category of 'Best Album of the Year'. In April, 2009, Fonseca received the "Colombiano de corazón" prize, awarded by the ' Colombia es pasión' brand name, at Casa de Nariño (Presidential Palace), This talented composer was born in 1979.

Ballet de Colombia - Founder and director, Sonia Osorio

Sonia Osorio (1928-2011) – Folk music dancer.
The founder of the Ballet of Colombia, Sonia Osorio, began to dance when she was three years old. She studied ballet and modern dance in the United States, South America and Europe. She specialized in choreography and theatrical techniques.
She and her ballet group, performed on hundreds of national and international stages, introducing the rhythms and dances of the different regions of the country.
In recognition to her art and work, she was decorated with the Cross of Boyacá by President Álvaro Uribe. The Department of Culture of Colombia paid homage to her in 2011.

Music Bands

Aterciopelados
This well-known group was formed in Bogotá in the early 1990's.
Since then, Andrea Echeverri (singer and guitar) and Hector Buitrago (bass, arrangements and production) have achieved great prestige in Colombia and have become one of the most internationally recognized Colombian music groups. Their compositions are fusions of rock, electronic, and Latin-American music.

Doctor Krápula – Rock music band.
Created in 1998, Doctor Krápula consists of Mario Muñoz, David Jaramillo, German Martinez, Dib Hadra, Fredy Caldas, Niko Cabrera, and Sergio Acosta.
Their recorded albums are El Carnaval de la Apatilla, Dele la Vuelta al Disco, and Bombea. In 2005, the band was awarded at Shock with the best Ska band and best rock band prizes and at the "Premios Nuestra Tierra 2007" competition, where they received the "Best Alternative Rock Artist of the Year" prize. Their most famous song is La Fuerza del Amor.

BONKA – Fusion music band.
The band Bonka, which was founded in Bogotá by Alejandro González, Daniel Mora, Felipe Harker, Juan José Barake, and Nicolás Barake , became well known in 2003.
They were the winners of the inter-schools competition organized by the "Hard Rock Cafe" 88.9 in 2004. Their songs, El Problemón and Es Ella, have had resounding success.
At the "Premios Nuestra Tierra 2007" competition, Bonka received the "Best New Artist of the Year" award.