This is a list of Guatemalan composers, past and present, who have shaped the country’s musical voice. Their work reflects the rich history and culture of Guatemala and the complexity of their art music, as they blend European and Indigenous qualities. Below you will find an extensive list of Guatemalan composers, biographical information, as well as links to their biographies, websites, or contact information.
- Álvarez Ovalle, Rafael
- 1858-1946
- Composer, pianist, violinist, flutist, guitarist
- Composed the Guatemalan National Anthem
- Director of School of Music of Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa
- Bio
- Alvarado, Herculano
- 1879-1921
- Pianist, composer
- Considered one of the great piano teachers in Guatemala
- Bio
- Alvarado, Paulo
- Arenas, Hugo
- Arias Lopez, Luis Felipe
- 1876-1908
- Pianist, composer, violinist
- Studied at the Royal Conservatory in Italy
- Upon return to Guatemala, became one of the most prominent teachers of his time
- Bio
- Asturias, Rodrigo
- b. 1940
- Pianist, composer
- Website
- Barahona, Edwin
- Barrios, Marcos
- Bermudez, Pedro
- 1558-1605
- Spanish composer, chapel master
- One of the most outstanding polyphonists in the New World
- Beteta, Xavier
- Bethancourt, Benedicto Ovalle
- 1894-1995
- Marimbist, composer, cellist
- Bio
- Bethancourt Mazariegos, José Domingo
- 1906-1980
- Marimbist, orchestral leader
- Bio
- Bolaños de Prado, Martha
- 1900-1963
- Actress, pianist, composer, teacher
- Symbol of artistic education in Guatemala
- Bio
- Cano, Nery
- 1956-2021
- Conductor, composer, arranger, trumpeter
- Promoted jazz music in Guatemala
- Bio
- Castañeda, José
- 1898-1983
- Composer, theorist
- Studied in Paris
- Combined music and choreography = gained attraction from Europe and North America
- Bio
- Castellanos, Rafael Antonio
- 1725-1791
- Composed vocal music
- Frequently referenced Guatemalan folk music idioms
- Bio
- Castellanos, Rafael Juárez
- 1913-2000
- Composer, trumpeter
- Marching band
- Bio
- Castillo, Jesús
- 1877-1946
- Pianist, composer
- Composed symphonic music and operas
- First musician to incorporate Guatemalan folk music in to his works
- Bio
- Castillo, Ricardo
- 1891-1966
- Younger brother to Jesús Castillo
- Pianist, composer
- Bio
- Castillo Barrios, Marco Antonio
- 1931-2014
- Composer, marimbist
- Bio
- Castillo de Ciego, Elvira Alvarez
- Composer, singer, songwriter
- Promoter of Garifuna culture in Guatemala
- Bio
- Castañeda Medinilla, Jose
- 1898-1983
- Composer
- First to experiment with polytonality, microtonality, and other avant-garde trends
- Bio
- Chavarria, Rodolfo Narciso
- 1901-1968
- Composer, marimbist
- Bio
- Ciudad Real, Maria Isabel
- Teacher at Universidad del Valle de Guatemala
- Curruchich, Sara
- Diaz, Enrique Anleu
- 1940-2023
- Composer, musicologist, ethnomusicologist
- Escolastico Andrino, Jose
- Salvadoran composer
- Born in Guatemala City
- Considered the found of classical music in El Salvador
- Bio
- Espinoza Porres, Miguel
- 1858-???
- Pianist, composer
- Studied in Europe at the Conservatoire of Paris
- Bio
- Estrada, Jose “Chipi”
- Eulalio Samayoa, Jose
- 1781-1866
- Composer trained in tradition of Spanish church music
- Bio
- Figueroa, Victor Manuel
- Composer
- One of the first students to attend the National Conservatory of Music of Guatemala
- Flores, Pamela (Pamela Symphony)
- Franco, Hernando
- 1532-1585
- Spanish composer of the Renaissance, active in Guatemala and Mexico
- Bio
- Fratti, Mabe
- Guatemalan Mexican
- Cellist, composer
- Avant-garde
- Bio
- Gandarias, David de
- Brother of Igor de Gandarias
- Composition teacher
- Electroacoustic music
- Produced music for Ajkeem, mixed chamber group
- Gandarias, Igor de
- b. 1953
- Composer, musicologist
- Electroacoustic music, multimedia, experimental sound art
- González, Julián
- Guzman, Diego
- Hernández, Marvin José Lara
- Composer
- Bio
- Hernández Campos, Isaac
- Hurtado Mazariegos, Rocael
- 1900-1973
- Marimbist, composer
- Bio
- Ippisch, Franz
- 1883-1958
- Born in Austria
- Composer, teacher, cellist
- Moved to Guatemala in 1939
- Conductor of the Conservatory Orchestra in Guatemala City
- Bio
- Kuba, Sophie
- Liano, Gianca
- Lehnhoff, Dieter
- Ley, Salvador
- 1907-1985
- Composer, pianist
- German Jewish descent
- Bio
- Martinez Sobral, Manuel
- 1879-1946
- Composer, pianist, lawyer
- Self-taught musician
- Spotify
- Melchor, Ricardo
- Mejía Cruz, Benigno
- 1911-2004
- Clarinetist, composer, marimbist
- Bio
- Mendoza, José Alberto
- Molina Pinillos, Juan Jose
- Moncada, Jair
- Composer
- Film music
- Moncrieff Ruiz, Haydee
- 1920-1991
- Composer, pianist, poet
- Moreno, Gaby
- Singer-songwriter
- Website
- Orellana, Joaquin
- Paniagua, Raul
- 1897-1953
- Composer, pianist
- Paniagua Martínez, Julián
- 1856-1946
- Band director, composer, musician
- Helped invent the first chromatic marimba
- Pérez Muñoz, Francisco “Paco”
- 1916-1951
- Singer, composer, guitarist
- Wrote Luna de Xelaju, popular waltz tune
- Bio
- Reyes Mendoza, Sergio R.
- Rodríguez, Fabián
- 1885-1952
- Composer, conductor
- Rodriguez, Josh
- Rodriguez, Ricardo
- Solares, Enrique
- 1910-1995
- Composer, pianist
- Bio
- Sandoval, Miguel
- 1902-1953
- Guatemalan-born American
- Pianist, composer, conductor
- Bio
- Santos Campos, Julio Cesar
- Composer
- Sarmientos, Jorge
- 1931-2012
- Composer
- Utilized serial techniques in music
- Bio
- Sarmientos, Igor
- Schlosser, Pieter A.
- Film music
- Based in Los Angeles, California
- Website
- Sis, Job
- Quezada, Vinicio
- b. 1960
- Pianist, arranger, composer
- Bio
- Quiros, Manuel Jose de
- c. 1690-1765
- Composer
- Student to Rafael Antonio Castellanos
- Bio
- Vasquez, Fernando
- Composer, marimbist
- Vásquez, Rafael
- 1885-1941
- Composer, guitarist
Guatemalan Music for the Clarinet 