Antonio de la Mora y Hernández (12 March 1884 – 9 May 1926 Kansas City, Missouri) was a Mexican-born virtuoso cornetist, composer, music educator, publisher, and influential military band director who served as Chief Musician (aka bandmaster) in elite Army bands of three countries – in Mexico: (i) the Mexican Army 6th Infantry Band; in the United States: (ii) the U.S. Army 21st Infantry Band stationed at Fort Logan, Colorado, and (iii) the U.S. Army 20th Infantry Band at Fort Douglas, Utah, the Philippines (island of Mindanáo at Ludlow Barracks), Honolulu at Schofield Barracks, and El Paso, Texas, at Camp Cotton; and in Canada (as a U.S. citizen): (iv) the Canadian Expeditionary Force 97th Battalion Band. In de la Mora's post-military career, he served as an educator and bandmaster of YMCAs and Shriners of several cities. In particular, he organized (i) the amateur military band at the Salt Lake City YMCA in 1913, (ii) the Kem Shrine and YMCA of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and (iii) the Hamasa Temple Shrine Band of Meridian, Mississippi. Career highlights De la Mora grew up in Tepic. He studied music at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City, completing in five years the regular eight years, graduating with distinction. 1895: Played solo cornet with a touring Mexican opera company under the direction of Assali. 1900: Cananea, the great copper camp, where he took charge of a music academy and organized a band. 1900: San Dimos, Durango, where he organized a band composed of native Mexicans and Indians. Mexican Army 19??: Enlisted in the 6th Infantry of the Mexican Army and, right-away, was assigned as Bandmaster, a position he held for two years. United States Army 1907: December 16, 1907, de la Mora enlisted in the 21st U.S. Infantry, initially at Jefferson Barracks Military Post near St. Louis as a musician at the rank of private. 1908, Fort Logan, Colorado In 1908, De la Mora was with the 21st Infantry Band stationed at Fort Logan – near Denver. The 21st Infantry Band, 4 years earlier based at Fort Snelling, under the direction of Charles W. Graves (born about 1864 Kenton, Ohio), was one of seven military bands selected to perform at the Saint Louis World Fair of 1904. February 4, 1908, he was promoted to sergeant. On March 21, 1909, he was appointed Acting Chief Musician. On May 5, 1909, he was appointed chief