Juan F. Acosta (May 27, 1890 – 1968) was a Puerto Rican composer and music teacher.
Early years
Acosta, who came from a large family, was born and educated in the town of San Sebastián, Puerto Rico, located in the western part of the main island. His parents, realizing that their son was gifted with musical talent, enrolled him at a young age to take music classes. He was under the tutorship of Jesús Fiqueroa (1878–1971), an accomplished composer himself, who taught him how to play various musical instruments, among them the clarinet and the euphonium. By 1900, when Acosta was only 10 years old, he was able to prepare the musical arrangements for the orchestras directed by Fiqueroa. In 1906, when he was 16 years old, Acosta was approached by Ángel Mislán (1862–1911), the director of the San Sebastián Municipal Band, who took him under his wing. Mislán taught Acosta the art of musical composition and harmony. Every town had a band which played in the town's square. The position of band director was considered a very important one, and when Mislán left San Sebastián, he recommended that Acosta be his successor.
First composition
Acosta had a girlfriend called Carmela, who in turn had another friend by the same name. Before moving from San Sebastián, in 1909, at the age of 19, he wrote his first danza titled Las Carmelas, inspired by the girls. He moved to the town of Adjuntas, where he organized its municipal band and various school bands. It is also where he met his future wife, Ramona "Ramonita" Nieves.