Felix Antonio Nolasco Dominican Saxophonist

Born under the warm Caribbean sun in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, on June 15, 1894, was a young man named Felix Antonio Nolasco.

He was the older son of Félix María Nolasco, the editor-in-chief of the Dominican newspaper Listín Diario, one of the most important newspapers in the country. His father was a great source of support, always encouraging him to pursue his artistic inspirations.

The Listín Diario proudly reported in 1928 that Félix Antonio Nolasco was named Saxophone Professor in NYC, marking a major milestone after dedicating over 12 years to music in the United States.

Based on research by Vivian Guerrero Aquino, Research Associate at the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, this story is part of the Institute’s Ellis Island Project, which documents the arrival of Dominican immigrants and preserves their personal histories. Its significance grew during an initiative led by CUNY DSI Research Assistant Waldemar Morety, which successfully resulted in the designation of a portion of Washington Heights as the Dominican Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.

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