Arturo Somohano Portela (September 1, 1910 – March 23, 1977) was a musical composer and director of the San Juan Symphony Orchestra, which is now named after him.
Early years
Somohano, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, had always been musically inclined and as a young child had learned to play the piano. He loved classical music and when he learned musical composition and harmony at the Fransician Chapel, he felt inspired to write music in a classical style.
San Juan Symphony Orchestra
Upon the outbreak of World War II, Somohano entertained U.S. Army troops by playing the piano and directing concerts at various military bases. His composition, "Canciones de las Americas" (Songs of the Americas), became an iconic anthem in the Army. After the war, Somohano returned to Puerto Rico, where he founded and directed the San Juan Symphony Orchestra and the Puerto Rico Philharmonic Orchestra. During this period, he also spearheaded the reconstruction of the Tapia Theater in San Juan, which was in a state of disrepair.