ANTONIO J.

MOLINA
National Artist for Music, 1973
Quiapo, Manila National Capital
Region

Antonio J. Molina (1894 - 1980)

was a composer, conductor and
music administrator from
Quiapo, Manila. He was known
as the Claude Debussy of the
Philippines due to his use of
impressionism in music.

Molina was the son of Lulu

Molina, a government official
who founded the Molina
Orchestra. He attended the Escuela Catolica de Nuestra Padre Jesus Nazareno in
Quiapo, Manila, and college at San Juan de Letran where he was awarded a
Bachelor of Arts degree in 1909.

Molina made his first composition in 1912 titled Matinal, which is preserved in an
unpublished volume called Miniaturas, Vol. 1. He was appointed to teach at the UP
Conservatory of Music, pursuing a career in music education until being appointed a
dean of the Centro Escolar Conservatory of Music. He founded the CEU String
Quartet which was professionally organized and financed by its music school.

As a composer, Molina is credited with over 500 compositions.