Marina Saiz-Salazar (1930-1990) was a composer and music educator who was one of the best known female composers in Panama.[1][2] She lived in the United States for several years and died in Florida.[3]
Saiz-Salazar was born in Panama to Inez Salazar and Julio Saiz.[3] She studied with Roque Cordero and graduated from the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica (National Institute of Music) with honors in 1957, then taught counterpoint, orchestration, solfeggio, and theory there.[4][5]
Saiz-Salazar’s compositions incorporated Panamanian folk melodies and rhythms as well as twelve-tone techniques. In May 1965, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Richard Dufallo premiered her orchestral work Se Jatpar at the third Inter-American Music Festival in Washington, D.C..[2][4]
Saiz-Salazar’s compositions were initially published by the Pan American Union.[6] They include: