ANTONIO J. MOLINA

(26 December 1894 – 29 January 1980) was a Filipino composer, conductor and music administrator. He was named a National Artist of the Philippines for his services to music. He was also known as the Claude Debussy of the Philippines due to his use of impressionism in music.

he was a versatile musician, composer, music educator was the last of the musical triumvirate, two of whom were Nicanor Abelardo and Francisco Santiago, who elevated music beyond the realm of folk music. At an early age, he took to playing the violoncello and played it so well it did not take long before he was playing as orchestra soloist for the Manila Grand Opera House. Molina is credited with introducing such innovations as the whole tone scale, pentatonic scale, exuberance of dominant ninths and eleventh cords, and linear counterpoints. As a member of the faculty of the UP Conservatory, he had taught many of the country’s leading musical personalities and educators like Lucresia Kasilag and Felipe de Leon.