Melchiorre Mauro-Cottone

"Melchiorre Mauro-Cottone was born in Palermo, Italy, in 1883, and died in New York City on September 29,1938.

He studied under his grandfather and father Antonio Mauro, who were both organists and composers. He became organist at the Church of San Carlo Borromeo at the age of twelve. At fifteen he was made organist at St Joseph’s Church, also in Palermo. He assisted his father as organist and choirmaster at the Pantheon, Church of the Dominican Fathers, and as teacher at the Royal Conservatory. He became director of the Schola Cantorum Pius X when he was eighteen.