Jorge López Marín is an important Cuban composer and conductor; he was born on May 8, 1949, in Havana. He studied at the Alejandro García Caturla Conservatories (31st Avenue and 82nd Street, Marianao, Havana), Amadeo Roldán Conservatories (Rastro No. 1 and Espada Street, Centro Habana, Havana), and the National School of Art (ENA) (120th Street between 9th and 13th Streets, Cubanacán, Playa, Havana), with professors such as Félix Guerrero, José Ardévol, Carlos Fariñas, and Federico Smith.

He completed his advanced studies at the kyiv Conservatory in Ukraine, beginning in 1969. He graduated in 1975 with such sublime results that he was able to pursue a Master’s degree at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, Russia, under the guidance of Aram Khachaturian in composition and Boris Khaikin in orchestral conducting. He graduated in 1978, also with the highest marks.

His conducting debut was with the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra. Throughout his career, López Marín has directed numerous orchestras, including the Schumen Symphony Orchestra in Bulgaria; the Cuban Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra; the Youth Symphony Orchestra of the National School of Music; the Cuban National Ballet in 1980, at the 7th Havana Ballet Festival; the Matanzas Symphony Orchestra in 1981; the Lvov, Ukraine, and Timisoara, Romania Symphony Orchestras in 1982; the Suhl Symphony Orchestra in Germany in 1983; the kyiv, Ukraine, and Tbilisi, Georgia, Symphony Orchestras in 1984; the kyiv, Ukraine, and Rzeszów and Olsztin, Poland, Symphony Orchestras in 1987; and the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica in 1988. He again conducted the Olsztin Symphony Orchestra, Poland, in 1989, and that same year, sponsored by the University, he presented a concert in Costa Rica in honor of the monument To Work, Disarmament and Peace, by the sculptor Thelvia Marín.

His compositions include symphonic works, works for band, choir, piano, harp, and various instrumental ensembles. His first concerto for orchestra premiered at the Gaveau Hall in Paris in 1985, performed by the Pas de Loup Concert Association Orchestra, conducted by Cuban conductor Tomás Fortín.

In 1990, he directed the first Cuban performance of Harold in Italy by French composer Hector Berlioz. That year, he began conducting the Amadeo Roldán Youth Symphony Orchestra of Havana, and later the Cuban Institute of Broadcasting’s Children’s Song Festival Orchestra until 1996.

Conducting the Orchestra of the Grand Theater of Havana (for which he composed important orchestrations), he has performed a variety of ballets and operas. In 1991, he conducted the first Cuban performance of Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 7, leading the Matanzas Symphony Orchestra; and with the National Symphony Orchestra, he performed a symphonic jazz concert in collaboration with the Cuban Perspectiva Group. His work, “Cuban Overture,” was presented under the direction of Elena Herrera in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

López Marín’s version of the Fantasia on Themes from Carmen was premiered in 1992 in the Dominican Republic. In her multimedia production, Ana Betancourt conducted the Opera Orchestra in 1993. The following year, she premiered Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Bastián and Bastiana at the Fourth International Festival of Lyric Arts in Havana, in co-production with the Experimental Opera Workshop of Guadalajara, Mexico.

In 1994, he participated in the 7th Havana International Guitar Festival, conducting the Amadeo Roldán Youth Symphony Orchestra. He conducted the premiere of the ballet Irazú, choreographed by Alicia Alonso, at the Grand Gala La danza en Lecuona; he also premiered the opera La taza de café, by Cuban composer Juan Piñera.

In 1995, he conducted the Matanzas Orchestra in the Tribute Concert to Ukrainian Culture; and in 1999, he founded the Alejo Carpentier Youth Symphony Orchestra.

López Marín was present at the concert dedicated to Cuba: Sound of the Americas, in New York. His Variations on Cuban Rhythms for string quartet were performed there, and his work In the Shadow premiered in that same American city and was broadcast on the BBC.

In 2000, in his role as a conductor, he performed at the Martinique Guitar Festival leading the National Symphony Orchestra. He also conducted the National Symphony Orchestra in the first performance in Cuba of Three Dance Episodes by the American composer Leonard Bernstein that same year.

A year later, he presented his Second Concerto for Orchestra on the Las Américas program, conducting the Córdoba Orchestra under the tutelage of Leo Brouwer. He also led the National Symphony Orchestra and gave a tribute concert to John Lennon.

Among López Marín’s most significant works are: Variations on Cuban Rhythms, for string quartet, 1973; Cuban Overture, for symphony orchestra, 1973; Concerto, for flute and orchestra, 1974; Danzón, for organ, 1974; Sonata, for trombone and piano, 1975; Caturla in memoriam, for piano, 1975; Music, for viola and strings, “Federico Smith in memoriam”, 1977; Concerto, for trumpet and orchestra, 1977; Music, for “Nuestro Tiempo”, 1979; John Lennon Abruptio, for oboe or clarinet in C and orchestra, 1981; Incidental Music for Los dueños del río, 1981; First Concerto for orchestra, EMC, 1982; Decorative Music, for any horn, strings and percussion, 1982; Cuban Concerto, for cello and symphony ensemble, 1983; Tempo Regiatt dalle Sincope, for clarinet and instrumental ensemble, 1983; The Word, for solo alto saxophone, EMC, 1983; Second Concerto for Orchestra, EMC, 1984; Theme for a Sculpture March, for symphony orchestra, 1984; Musical Epic “Ana Betancourt”, for two soloists, mixed choir, dancers and symphony orchestra, 1987; Dance Suite, for symphony orchestra, 1987; Poetic Songs, for soprano and symphony orchestra, 1988; Musipaz, for string orchestra, 1988; Ex cantus firmus, for instrumental ensemble, 1989; Fantasy on Costa Rican Themes, for symphony orchestra, 1989; Weightless Sensual, flute, strings and two horns, EMC, 1989; Synthesizer Variations, for symphony orchestra, 1990; Incidental Music (electroacoustic) for the play Desamparado, 1991; Viaje, piano, version for synthesizer and strings, 1991; Hace tango tiempo, for symphony orchestra, 1992; El camino del Árbol, incidental music, 1992; Six Pieces, for trombone quartet, 1995; Feeling Piece, for reed trio, 1995; Symphony in G major, 1996; Con tenerezza in memoriam, for piano, 1997; In the Shadow, for harp or piano or piano and orchestra or version for orchestra, 1998; Dicho de varios maneras, for symphony orchestra; Piano Doctor, for string orchestra, 1998; Tango Night, for string orchestra, 1999 and The Rite of Summer, for solo piano, 2001.

In his work as an educator, it is worth highlighting that he serves as a professor of Orchestral Conducting at the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) (Calle 120 No. 1110 between 9th and 13th, Cubanacán, Playa, Havana) and writes the program “Música de Cámara” (Chamber Music) for CMBF Radio Musical Nacional. Maestro Jorge López Marín holds the academic rank of Doctor of Art Sciences; he is a member of the UNEAC Musicians Association and holds the Distinction for National Culture.