A representative of a Slovak classical music, Ján Levoslav Bella was educated in Banská Bystrica. There he organized a choir and a string quartet for which he was composing too. During his theological studies in Banská Bystrica, he was composing instrumental masses, motets and secular music for piano. During his tenure in this town, he became a leading hero of the national liberation. He is the author of the first Slovak opera called Wieland the Smith (1926), a chamber music for piano, violin and piano, a string quartet, an organ music, an orchestral music and choirs. He published poems, many articles about music, musical and aesthetic essays and reflections on national and religious music. The Conservatoire of Ján Levoslav Bella in Banská Bystrica founded in 1992 was named after him.

Mikuláš Moyzes was born in Zvolenská Slatina and later he attended a grammar school in Banská Bystrica. He is considered to be the pioneer of realistic tendencies in the Slovak music and the predecessor of a modern Slovak music. He is the author of various musical compositions and an arranger of folk songs mainly from Zvolen and Šariš regions. He also published a textbook of music, geography, Slovak language and figures. These works contributed significantly to the development of the Slovak education.

Ján Cikker was one of the leaders of a modern Slovak music. He influenced the development of musical drama in the 20th century. This famous composer dealed with the hidden aspects of human life and psyche in many of his opera works. Ján Cikker was awarded the Unesco Prize for Music in 1979 thanks to his symphonic works e.g. a trilogy of symphonic poems About life, a cantata Cantus filiorum, an oratorio Ode to Joy, some chamber (two string quartets) and vocal works (a song cycle About Mammy, folk song adaptations). He was also awarded 1st class Ľudovít Štúr Order in memoriam in 2011.

Tibor Andrašovan is considered to be the founder of Slovak ballet outputs. He wrote operas, film and incidental music, choral and symphonic music. His arrangements are well-known mostly for folk songs. He wrote the music for the film "Native Land„ and also for the film "1st May". His work also includes music for the ballet called „Song of Peace„ which was in the repertoire of the Slovak National Theatre. In 1949 he received a national award for a film composition called "Song of machines."

Eugen Suchoň created modern Slovak music fundamentals. He is also author of the Slovak National Opera. He was influenced mainly by Slovak folk melodies. In 1933 he worked as a professor of theoretical courses. Since 1948 he had lectured at the Musical and Dramatic Academy in Bratislava (renamed to the State Conservatory in Bratislava in 1941). From 1941 to 1948 Eugen Suchoň worked as a professor of composition at the Conservatory in Bratislava. From 1948 to 1960 he was a professor and head of The Department of Music Education at the Comenius University in Bratislava. From 1963 to 1974 he was a lecturer of science and high music education at the Faculty of Arts at the Comenius University.