Eloy Fominaya (b. 10 June 1925 New York City; d. 8 April 2002, Augusta, Georgia), was an American contemporary composer, music educator at the collegiate level, conductor, violinist, and, as of 1985, a luthier. His obituary in The Augusta Chronicle stated that had been a child prodigy in music. Fominaya played the violin for Eleanor Roosevelt at the White House before the age of ten and, by the age of 15, performed Felix Mendelssohn's '' Violin Concerto in D'' with the

National Symphony Orchestra The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1930, its principal performing venue is the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It also performs for the annual National Mem ...

in Washington, D.C. Beginning 1966, Fominaya served as chair of the Fine Arts Department at

Augusta State University Augusta State University was a public university in Augusta, Georgia. It merged with Georgia Health Sciences University in 2012 to form Georgia Regents University, later known as Augusta University. History Augusta State University was founded ...

for 16 years. In total, Fominaya served 33 years at

, teaching violin, composition, contemporary harmony/humanities and counterpoint. He retired as a Professor of Music at age 70. Fominaya was an associate conductor of the Augusta Symphony and played violin in the orchestra. He was musical director and conductor of the Augusta Chorale Society for 12 years. He was director of the Augusta Youth Orchestra from 1966 to 1994.Obituary: ''Fominaya Retired Professor of Music,'' Augusta Chronicle, April 14, 2002

Academic positions

* Associate Professor of Music, University of Louisiana at Monroe * 1966–1997 — Various teaching positions, including Chairman, Music Department, Augusta College, Georgia

Education

* 1950 — Bachelor of Music (violin & music education) Lawrence University, Wisconsin * Feb 1953 — Master of Music (major – composition; minor – violin), University of North Texas (studied composition with Violet Archer) * 1963 — Doctor of Philosophy in Music,

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* Studied at Juilliard for 3 years * Studied with master violin maker, Albert Ferdinand Moglie (1890–1988) * 1951 — Studied at Baylor University

External links

The Eloy Fominaya Collection at Michigan State University Library

References

General references * ''Contemporary American Composers,'' A biographical dictionary, first edition, compiled by

E. Ruth Anderson Elsie Ruth Anderson (23 June 1907, Newport, Rhode Island – 24 November 1989, Boston, Massachusetts) was an American musicologist, weather observer, and editor. Biography Anderson attended the New England Conservatory of Music from 1924 to ...

(1928– ), G.K. Hall & Co., Boston (1976) * ''Contemporary American Composers,'' A biographical dictionary, second edition, compiled by

(1928– ), G.K. Hall & Co., Boston (1982) * ''Who's Who in American Music: Classical,''

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, New York (1983) Inline citations Contemporary classical music performers American male classical composers American classical composers 20th-century classical composers 21st-century classical composers Postmodern composers 1925 births 2002 deaths Lawrence University alumni University of North Texas College of Music alumni Michigan State University alumni American music educators 21st-century American composers 20th-century American composers 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians {{US-music-bio-stub