Robert Bonfiglio

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Robert Bonfiglio (born September 6, 1950)

Paganini of the harmonica",[2]
he is known for his many recordings and live performances featuring the instrument.

Early life and education

Bonfiglio was born in

Mannes College of Music in New York City, studying composition. Mannes, like the other major music conservatories in the United States at the time, did not offer majors in the harmonica. However, Bonfiglio also studied the classical harmonica with Cham-Ber Huang for five years and was coached privately by Andrew Loyla, the Principal Flautist with the New York City Ballet orchestra for over ten years. During this time he added all the existing classical music composed for the harmonica to his repertoire.[3][4] After receiving his Bachelor of Music from Mannes, Bonfiglio went to post-graduate study at the Manhattan School of Music. It was his composition teacher there, Charles Wuorinen, who told him he could do more with the classical harmonica than with composition because it was such a special niche.[1]

Career

After graduating from the Manhattan School of Music with his Masters in Music, Bonfiglio supported himself as a session musician in New York working on commercials and soundtracks for television programs and films, including the soundtracks for Kramer vs. Kramer and Places in the Heart. His breakthrough as a concert artist came in 1986 when he performed the world premiere of Henry Cowell's Harmonica Concerto with the Brooklyn Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Lukas Foss. BONFIGLIO has been a concerto soloist with Orchestras including the Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Orchestra of the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, the Luxembourg Philharmonic, the Leipzig M D R-Radio Symphony, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, the Madrid Radio Television Española Orchestra, Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla, the Estonia National Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, the Mexico City Philharmonic, as well as the Milwaukee Symphony, the Indianapolis Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, Oregon Symphony, Utah Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.[3][5]

Personal life

Bonfiglio is married to the

flautist Clare Hoffman. The couple founded the Grand Canyon Music Festival in 1984 and continue to serve as its artistic directors.[6]

Discography

Bonfiglio's recordings include:

  • Villa-Lobos: Harmonica Concerto, Bachianas Brasileiras, with the New York Chamber Symphony, RCA Victor, 1989
  • Through the Raindrops, High Harmony Records, 1992
  • Live at the Grand Canyon, High Harmony Records, 1994. Recorded at the Grand Canyon Music Festival in September 1993 and September 1994.

References

  1. ^
    Gale Group
    . Retrieved online via encyclopedia.com 12 June 2014.
  2. ^ Swed, Mark (January 12, 1998), "A Big-Time Opener for Little Festival". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 June 2014
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8154-1020-1
    . Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  4. ^ Winzenried, Rebecca (2001). "Robert Bonfiglio: Hummin'". The Free-Reed Journal. Reprinted from Symphony, the magazine of the American Symphony Orchestra League (November–December 2001). Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  5. ^ "Robert Bonfiglio - Biography". robert-bonfiglio.com. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  6. ^ Crist, Nanette (February 13, 2014). "Blowing Emotion". Florida Weekly. Retrieved 12 June 2014.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Bonfiglio&oldid=1195189692"