Ján Levoslav Bella (1843–1936) was one of the most important Romantic Slovak composers, as well as a conductor and an organist. He studied theology in Banská Bystrica and at the Pázmáneum Jesuit University in Vienna. After his return to Banská Bystrica he was ordained priest in 1866 and he began teaching music at a seminary. From 1879 till 1881 he was the parish priest as well as municipal and eccelesiastic music director of Kremnica. At the age of 38 he moved to Transsylvanian Sibiu (Hermannstadt), to be Kapellmeister and teacher. He converted to Protestantism, got married and brought musical culture to the German Protestant part of the town. In 1921 he moved in with his daughter, who lived in Vienna, But in 1928 he moved back to Bratislava (Slovakia), where he lived until his death on May 25, 1936.