Jesús María de Alba Castellanos was an Executive Music Director, composer, arranger of polyphonic digitized music, in charge of public relations, fourth voice of the Rondalla group, who also played the guitar and clarinet. He began his musical studies at an early age, in the Musical Chair of The Conference Conciliate of Barranquilla, Colombia, where he studied four years of Gregorian chant and sacred music, music theory, and basic piano. He used both Latin and French languages on his historical research projects. Simultaneously with his studies of Bachelor of Philosophy and Humanities, professional studies perfected his musical skills at the School of fine arts in Barranquilla, Colombia, where he studied music theory and composition with his mentor Pietro Biava, as well as classical guitar with experts Joseph Mazzilli and Calixto González. In an autodidact manner he studied Spanish guitar and Flamenco by taking private lessons with Paco de Lucia, Emilio de Diego, and Juan Marote. The first two discs of Latin American titles by Paco de Lucia were recorded using "three guitars" arrangements by Jesús de Alba for the themes: Moliendo café, La flor de la canela, Alma, corazón y vida, Manha do carnaval y Jarabe tapatio. Along with his studies in Business Administration and professional activities in the pharmaceutical industry, he continued his studies in music composition, classical guitar, and folk guitar at the Conservatory in Santiago de Cali, Colombia and the Institute of Culture in the same city, with professors Alvaro Ramirez, Hernán Moncada, Henry Rivas, and Valdiri. In addition to his musical activities and professional routine, he devoted much of his time to musical composition and musical arrangements digitalized for vocal groups and orchestras. He was also a composer and researcher of history, author of several works of history, poetry, and children's literature. Furthermore, he wrote a book of traditions and historical legends, several historical cartographic monographs, an essay on Andrés Bello, and was a pioneer in graphic Venezuelan advertising. His legacy consists of seventy musical compositions written by the artist for vocal and instrumental groups. He passed away in October 15, 2013.
