Born in 1971, composer/pianist/organist LEONARDO CIAMPA is acknowledged as a musician of supreme gifts and extraordinary versatility. Leonardo attended the New England Conservatory Preparatory School from age eight through college.
Ciampa is founding director of MetroWest Choral Artists (metrowestchoralartists.org), an all-professional choir and Honorary Music Director (Maestro di Capella Onorario) of the Basilica di Sant'Ubaldo in Gubbio, Italy. From 2009-2016 Ciampa was the artistic director of organ concerts at M.I.T.
As an organ recitalist, Ciampa has made a dozen European tours encompassing Italy, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. He is particularly admired in Italy, where he has played in numerous international festivals (including the Festival Perosiano, Festival Biellese, Organi Storici della Valsesia, Le Voci della Città, and Festival Organistico Lauretano).
Ciampa’s compositions (which are considered “Neoromantic”) include Suite Siciliana, Op. 145 (for two violins, piano and orchestra), commissioned by the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston to open their 25th anniversary season; The Annunciation, Op. 203 (cantata for chorus, soloists, and strings); the Kresge Organ Symphony, commissioned by MIT and premiered in Kresge Auditorium; a piano quintet (premiered by the Lavazza Chamber Ensemble); and numerous sacred works.
As a pianist, Ciampa is particularly admired for his interpretations of Chopin, whose 200th birthday he commemorated in 2010 with six recitals at First Church in Boston.
An avid writer, Ciampa has written several books, including The Twilight of Belcanto, Don Lorenzo Perosi (the first English-language biography of that composer), and, most recently, Gigli (the first book on the great tenor in English in 56 years).
Ciampa is founding director of MetroWest Choral Artists (metrowestchoralartists.org), an all-professional choir and Honorary Music Director (Maestro di Capella Onorario) of the Basilica di Sant'Ubaldo in Gubbio, Italy. From 2009-2016 Ciampa was the artistic director of organ concerts at M.I.T.
As an organ recitalist, Ciampa has made a dozen European tours encompassing Italy, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. He is particularly admired in Italy, where he has played in numerous international festivals (including the Festival Perosiano, Festival Biellese, Organi Storici della Valsesia, Le Voci della Città, and Festival Organistico Lauretano).
Ciampa’s compositions (which are considered “Neoromantic”) include Suite Siciliana, Op. 145 (for two violins, piano and orchestra), commissioned by the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston to open their 25th anniversary season; The Annunciation, Op. 203 (cantata for chorus, soloists, and strings); the Kresge Organ Symphony, commissioned by MIT and premiered in Kresge Auditorium; a piano quintet (premiered by the Lavazza Chamber Ensemble); and numerous sacred works.
As a pianist, Ciampa is particularly admired for his interpretations of Chopin, whose 200th birthday he commemorated in 2010 with six recitals at First Church in Boston.
An avid writer, Ciampa has written several books, including The Twilight of Belcanto, Don Lorenzo Perosi (the first English-language biography of that composer), and, most recently, Gigli (the first book on the great tenor in English in 56 years).
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There is no grass growing under Leonardo -- a composer, pianist, organist, conductor, vocal coach, author, and father of four young boys. Though music consumes most of his time, he is also fascinated by the art of cooking, in particular the cuisine of his ancestors, Southern Italian farmers going back many generations. (He shares some of their ancient recipes on his blog, "Pensieri Meridionali.") Leonardo doesn't like the terms "culture" or "the arts." For him, "arts" are "the things normal people did before the invention of TV." His ancestors were a case in point: though they couldn't read or write, they sang, played instruments, made wood carvings, built things, and cooked food that today would be considered "gourmet."
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