Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

January 8, 1964 in New Jersey

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Robert Maggio is a contemporary classical music composer who was born on August 22, 1954, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a classical pianist. Maggio started playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the guitar and bass. Maggio attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music composition. He then went on to earn a Master of Music degree in composition from the Yale School of Music. During his time at Yale, Maggio studied with renowned composers such as Jacob Druckman and Martin Bresnick. After completing his studies, Maggio began his career as a composer, and his works have been performed by numerous orchestras and ensembles, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. He has also been commissioned by various organizations, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and the American Composers Forum. One of Maggio's most notable works is his opera, "The Memory Stone," which premiered in 2006 at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. The opera tells the story of a woman who discovers a magical stone that allows her to relive her memories. The work received critical acclaim, with The Philadelphia Inquirer calling it "a triumph of imagination and craft." Maggio has also composed a number of chamber works, including "Three Portraits for Clarinet and Piano," which was commissioned by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and premiered in 1999. The work features three movements, each inspired by a different painting by the artist Edward Hopper. In addition to his work as a composer, Maggio is also a professor of music at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. He has been a member of the faculty since 1984 and has taught courses in music theory, composition, and electronic music. Maggio's music is known for its intricate harmonies and use of unconventional instruments and sounds. He often draws inspiration from literature, visual art, and nature, and his works often explore themes of memory, identity, and spirituality. Overall, Robert Maggio is a highly respected composer in the contemporary classical music world. His works have been performed and commissioned by numerous organizations, and his unique style and approach to composition have earned him critical acclaim.

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