Heitor Villa-Lobos is one of the most famous South American composers in music history. He is known for writing music that shows the many different musical styles and traditions of his homeland, Brazil. Besides composing, he worked to change music education in Brazilian schools to improve it locally. His music often reflects the folklore and cultural influences found throughout Brazil. Villa-Lobos grew up in a musical family that hosted musicians every Saturday, playing music late into the night. His family hoped he would choose medicine instead of music, but he was determined to be a musician. As a child, he practiced cello, clarinet, and guitar, and played music in cafes, on streets, and at parties. Traveling through Brazil as he got older, he absorbed the country's many musical influences, including Portuguese, African, and Amerindian cultures. Beginning to compose at age 14, he mixed these different styles to create new sounds. At 18, he made a risky trip to the Amazon,learning(native)music,whichinfluencedhiswork. His compositions were performed in Brazil but produced mixed reactions. Some people were unsure about the blend of musical styles in his pieces, while others enjoyed them immediately. He married a pianist, Lucilia Guimaraes, and supported himself by playing cello in various orchestras. In his 30s, he moved to Paris, hoping to develop his composing in Europe’s cultural center. There, his music was welcomed, as its bright, unique sound was unlike much European music and fascinated audiences. Later, Villa-Lobos returned to Brazil to impact music education directly. He formed a large choral group in Sao Paulo that included people from all social classes. The government of Rio de Janeiro also invited him to help organize music teaching in the city’s schools, showing his important role in shaping music education in Brazil.