Conductor, composer. Eduardo Mata was born in Mexico City and studied the guitar before enrolling in the National Conservatory of Music. From 1960 to 1963, he studied with composers Carlos Chavez and Julian Orbon. Mata received a Koussevitzky Fellowship in 1964 that enabled him to study conducting with Erich Leinsdorf and Max Rudolf and composing with Gunther Schuller. He composed several works that include three symphonies and chamber music. In 1972, Eduardo Mata left Mexico to become the principle conductor of the Phoenix Symphony, a position he held until 1977 when he became music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Mata held the post in Dallas until 1993 and was also a guest conductor with many orchestras in the United States, Europe and Latin America. In his years at Dallas podium, Mr. Mata improved the orchestra's performance standard making the orchestra into an internationally recognized ensemble. He successfully campaigned for the building of the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, which opened in 1989. He made numerous recordings, including works composed by his teachers Carlos Chavez and Julian Orbon. Maestro Mata was appointed as Principle Conductor of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra when he was killed in a plane crash. Mr. Mata was an aviation enthusiast and piloted his own plane. On January 4, 1995, he was flying his Piper Aerostar from Cuernavaca, Mexico to Dallas when the plane had engine failure shortly after takeoff. The plane crashed during an emergency landing and also claimed the life of his passenger Maria Anaya.
Conductor, composer. Eduardo Mata was born in Mexico City and studied the guitar before enrolling in the National Conservatory of Music. From 1960 to 1963, he studied with composers Carlos Chavez and Julian Orbon. Mata received a Koussevitzky Fellowship in 1964 that enabled him to study conducting with Erich Leinsdorf and Max Rudolf and composing with Gunther Schuller. He composed several works that include three symphonies and chamber music. In 1972, Eduardo Mata left Mexico to become the principle conductor of the Phoenix Symphony, a position he held until 1977 when he became music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Mata held the post in Dallas until 1993 and was also a guest conductor with many orchestras in the United States, Europe and Latin America. In his years at Dallas podium, Mr. Mata improved the orchestra's performance standard making the orchestra into an internationally recognized ensemble. He successfully campaigned for the building of the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, which opened in 1989. He made numerous recordings, including works composed by his teachers Carlos Chavez and Julian Orbon. Maestro Mata was appointed as Principle Conductor of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra when he was killed in a plane crash. Mr. Mata was an aviation enthusiast and piloted his own plane. On January 4, 1995, he was flying his Piper Aerostar from Cuernavaca, Mexico to Dallas when the plane had engine failure shortly after takeoff. The plane crashed during an emergency landing and also claimed the life of his passenger Maria Anaya.
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