Salvador Félix Alarcón Rodríguez

Musician, director of music bands, composer, arranger, and trainer of several generations of musicians.

Throughout his artistic career, he directed the Nacional de Conciertos band, the band of the General Staff of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, the band of the Eastern Army General Staff, and the Municipal band of his native city. He also helped create groups of this type in Cabo Verde and Haiti, and was co-author of the program applied in Cuba for the training of musicians, with the objective of having concert groups in all municipalities.

On January 2, 1959, Alarcón Rodríguez was among the members of the Bayamo Band that received Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz and his Caravan of Freedom, with the strains of the March of July 26. That was the first group that orchestrated and performed said piece.

He represented Cuba at various national and international events and meetings. He was a member of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba. He received several decorations and honorary titles, including that of Distinguished Son of the province of Granma and the distinction The Utility of Virtue, granted by the José Martí Cultural Society. In recognition of his work, he was also awarded by the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba the Alejo Carpentier Medal.

In his honor, the branch of the Association of Musicians of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC), grants the Salvador Alarcón Rodríguez Award for Musical Excellence, the highest recognition granted by this branch in the southeastern province of Granma. It was awarded for the first time in Bayamo, on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding musician for whom this high distinction is named.