Salvador Brotons was born in Barcelona. He studied flute with his father, continuing his education additionally in composition and orchestral conducting at the Conservatori Superior de Música de Barcelona. In 1985 he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship and subsequently studied for a doctorate in music at Florida State University.
Brotons has written more than 130 works, and has received 16 prizes for composition, including the Premio Nacional de España (1977), the Premi Ciutat de Barcelona (1986) and the Queen Sofía Composition Prize (1991). He has also received numerous commissions and his works have been released on labels such as EMI, Auvidis, Albany Records and Naxos.
He has been music director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra since 1991, and has also been the conductor of the Vallès and Balearic Symphony orchestras. In 2002 he
received the Florida State University Alumni Award for his professional achievements. He has been the music director of the Barcelona Symphonic Band since September 2008.