Gustavo Becerra-Schmidt

Gustavo Becerra-Schmidt (August 26, 1925 – January 3, 2010) was a Chilean composer. Biography and career Becerra-Schmidt was born in Temuco, Chile. He studied at The Chilean National Conservatory, and was taught by Pedro Humberto Allende. During this time and after, Becerra-Schmidt was a teacher in the Chilean National Conservatory, he held this position until 1971 when he became a Cultural attaché between Chile and Bonn. 2 years later, Becerra-Schmidt moved to Germany due to the 1973 Chilean coup d’état, in Germany, Becerra-Schmidt taught at the University of Oldenburg beginning in 1974. Becerra was also an important teacher. Some of his pupils are among the most important composers of Chile, these include Luis Advis, Sergio Ortega, Fernando García and Cirilo Vila. Becerra-Schmidt died on January 3, 2010, at his home in Oldenburg. Compositions Becerra was a prolific Chilean composer, his catalogue includes hundreds of compositions that goes from traditional to avant-garde to Aleatoric music, and from popular songs to large-scale cantatas, symphonies and oratorios. However, a large part of his musical career was politically involved, some of his cantatas included verses that were r