Francisco Rodrigo Arto was born in Valtierra, Navarra, in 1938. After musical studies at the Victoria Eugenia Conservatory in Granada, he moved to Venezuela in 1964, becoming a Venezuelan citizen three years later. He studied with Vicente Emilio Sojo and Evencio Castellanos at the Escuela de Música de Caracas and received his degree in Composition in 1971. He specialised in orchestral and choral formations with Gonzalo Castellanos and studied musical technique with the Argentinian composer, Alberto Ginastera.
He became organist and kapelllmeister at the church of Chacao '1978-1988), professor of counterpoint and fugue at the Escuela de Música and University Institute of Musical Studies in Caracas, choir master and conductor.
He has composed an important collection of more than 800 hundred pieces of music in many different styles. Religious music: Hymns, Ave Marias, Sacred Songs, Masses for voice and organ ; Works for choir and orchestra: Dos Poemas de la Pasion ; Music for orchestra (symphonic poems) ; Various concertos: Conciero en Granada for Guitar and Small Orchestra (1971), Concerto for Mandolin and Orchestra (1984),Concerto for Harp and Orchestra (1990), Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1971), Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra (1993); Painting by Pílar Vásquez Chamber music; Songs for voice and piano; Pieces for guitar: Madrigales y Danzas de Cortejo (1986-1987) and Suite Elegíaca (1990); Pieces for piano: Sonata Andaluza (1968), Siete Impresiones Caraqueñas (1976), Preludios Andinos (1987) and Preludios Vascos (1989) ; For voice and organ, and for organ : Suite para Organo (1971), Vitrales Sonoros (1985), Suite Navideña (1987).
Web: http://www.caronimusic.com