Born in 1971, composer/pianist/organist LEONARDO CIAMPA is acknowledged as a musician of supreme gifts and versatility.
Ciampa is artistic director of organ concerts at MIT. He is also founding director of MetroWest Choral Artists, an all-professional choir.
As an organ recitalist, Ciampa has made nine European tours encompassing Italy, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. He is particularly admired in Italy, where he has played in numerous international festivals (Festival Perosiano, Festival Biellese, Organi Storici della Valsesia, Le Voci della Città, etc.). For 26 years, from the age of 15, Ciampa served as director of music in churches of various denominations.
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 (his sixth organ symphony), commissioned by MIT and premiered in Kresge Auditorium; a piano quintet (premiered by the Lavazza Chamber Ensemble); and numerous sacred works. Ciampa’ compositions are published by CIC Musica (www.cicmusica.com), and a number are also distributed by Evensong Music, Media and Graphics.
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 and Don Lorenzo Perosi (the first English-language biography of that composer). More recently, he compiled and edited Beniamino Gigli: A Commemoration. He is also the author of an increasingly popular bilingual blog, Pensieri Meridionali (www.pensierimeridionali.com).
