“Accomplished and winning...” -The New York Times “Full of energy and lyricism...” -Hartford Courant
“Fusco’s entranced movements communicated with his whole body his playful but sensitive participation.”
- Il Cittadino di Messina
“A leader of his generation of emerging artists....” - El Mundo
Mr. Fusco travels between New York and Europe in high demand as a composer, teacher, vocal coach, and collaborative keyboardist. A native of New Jersey, he began his piano studies at 8 and composed his first works by 10. After piano, composition, and conducting studies in the Manhattan School of Music and Red Bank Regional High School for the Performing Arts he moved to Turin, Italy to study composition with Giulio Castagnoli and piano with Rita Peiretti at the G. Verdi Conservatorio. He later returned to the U.S. to study composition with David Loeb, Robert Cuckson and analysis with Carl Schachter at the Mannes College of Music where he was valedictorian for his class in 2005 and received his Master’s Degree in 2007. In Autumn 2007 he studied piano with Laszlo Gereb in the Vienna Konservatorium. In the summer of 2002 he studied strict compositional technique with students of Nadia Boulanger at the EAMA Etage de Composition in the Schola Cantorum in Paris.
His catalog includes over 60 compositions of instrumental, vocal, chamber, and orchestral music. An avid early music enthusiast and active harpsichordist, he mixes elements of contemporary music, jazz, and popular genres with gestures and techniques of the Baroque and Classical eras. His music has been performed throughout prestigious venues in Spain, Italy, France, Austria, and the United States.
As a keyboardist he is a founding member of Ensemble Duriusculus and Uncommon Temperament and has performed continuo and as a soloist with I Cantori, Bachanalia, Monmouth Civic Chorus, Columbia Bach Society, Fuma Sacra, and Princeton Bach Week Festival Orchestra in prestigious venues such as Merkin Hall, Count Basie Theater, Instituto Cervantes, Casa Mila de Barcelona, and numerous others. Since 2008 he has served as rehearsal pianist for American Ballet Theatre.
Equally at home in popular music, Mr. Fusco has played keyboards for Nicole Atkins and The Sea and is a co-founder of the dueling/collaborating jazz piano duo Major Keys. In 2008 he conducted the world premiere of Karl Kappler’s Operetta "At a Party" and in 2006 was the arranger and musical director for Mark Tillinger’s musical Samson. He also writes lyrics and has produced dozens of original songs.
Raphael teaches composition for the International Baccalaureate program of the prestigious Dwight School in New York and serves on the composition and vocal coaching faculty of Siena Summer Music Festival. He also gives master classes to talented high school artists through NJ Teen Arts Festival.
Commissions include members of the NY Philharmonic, the String Quartet of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Bachanalia Festival Orchestra, Grammy nominated English Hornist Tom Stacy, 2nd Avenue Dance Company, The Actor’s Studio, Teatro Grattacielo, I Cantori New York, Hartford Chorale, the TRE Ensemble, Aurora Borealis Duo, and numerous others.
Awards include the Padre Martini Fugue Award, Lotte-Edgars Award, Bohuslov Martinu Composition Award, First Prize in the Jean Schneider-Groberman Composition Competition, Award of Highest Distinction from the Schola Cantorum in Paris, Senator Guarini Scholarship, Mannes College Dean’s Award, Award for Outstanding Achievement from the Knights of Columbus.
Raphael Fusco: Bio and CV
CURRICULUM VITAE
Raphael Amadio Fusco Composer/Arranger
Collaborative Keyboardist-piano/harpsichord
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964 Amsterdam Avenue Apt. 2-D New York City, NY 10025
732. 996. 4147 fusco.raphael@gmail.com www.raphaelfusco.com
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Place of Birth: Neptune, NJ USA
Date of Birth: September 4, 1984
Nationality: American
Marital Status: Unmarried
LANGUAGES
English: native language
Italian: native proficiency
German: advanced proficiency
French: advanced proficiency
Latin: intermediate proficiency
EDUCATION
Nov-Sep 2007 Konservatorium/Actilingua Academy, Vienna, Austria
Enrolled as a pianist in the course of German and Music
Certificate of advanced proficiency in German Language
2007-2006 Mannes College of Music, New York, NY
Master of Music in Composition, Summa Cum Laude 3.97 GPA
2006-2005 Mannes College of Music, New York, NY
Enrolled in Professional Studies Diploma Program in Composition
2005-2002 Mannes College of Music, New York, NY
Bachelor of Music in Composition, Valedictorian, Summa Cum Laude
2003 Schola Cantorum, Paris, France
Enrolled in the European American Musical Alliance Etage de Composition
2002-2001 Music Conservatory of G. Verdi, Turin, Italy
Enrolled in the programs of Composition and Piano
Degree in Solfeggio
2001 Europass Italian Cultural and Lingual Center, Florence, Italy
Certificate of Native Proficiency in Italian language
2001-1999 Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY
Enrolled in the Preparatory Division programs of piano, composition, and conducting
2001-1998 Red Bank Regional High School for the Performing Arts, Red Bank, NJ
Enrolled as a Piano major
High School Diploma
1998-1990 St. Mary’s of the Assumption Catholic Grammar School
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Principal Composition Teachers: David Loeb (Mannes), Robert Cuckson (Mannes),
Phillip Lasser (Paris/NY), Giulio Castagnoli (Turin)
Composition mentors, and masterclasses with: Paul Moravec, David Tcimpidis, Keith Fitch, George Tsontakis, Bruce Adolphe, Chen Yi, Bright Sheng, Michel Merlet, Narcis Bonet, Alex Yagupski, Dan Bar-Hava
Conducting studies with: Jonathan Strasser
Piano Teachers: Laszlo Gereb (Konservatorium, Vienna), Rita Peiretti (Conservatorio G. Verdi, Turin)
Obaldo Diaz-Acosta (MSM, New York) Thomas Zvoncheck (New Jersey)
Harpsichord, Continuo, and Early Music mentors: Nancy Wilson (Mannes), Frederic Felheisen (Mannes), Arthur Haas (Mannes), Myron Lotsky (Mannes), Robert Cuckson (Mannes), Andrew Megill (Princeton, NJ), Robin Leaver (Princeton, NJ), Rita Peiretti (Turin) Maxim Vladimiroff (Paris)
Analytical/Theoretical studies with: Carl Schachter (Schenker), David Loeb (Schenker), Robert Cuckson (Harmony/Counterpoint/20th Century Techniques/Pedagogy), Wayne Alpern (Dodecaphonic Techniques), Phillip Lasser (Counterpoint and Fugue), Mark Shapiro (Dechiffrage), Giulio Castagnoli (Harmony/counterpoint)
HONORS AND AWARDS
2009 First Prize Padre Martini Fugue Award
2007 Awarded Fellowship to work as organ and harpsichord continuist for Westminster Choir College’s “Bach Week”
2007 Mannes College Dean’s Award for overall excellence and outstanding dedication to the
Mannes community
2007 Baldislov Martinu Composition Prize
2006 Awarded Fellowship to work as organ and harpsichord continuist for Westminster Choir College’s
“Bach Week”
2006 First Prize – Jean Schneider-Groberman Composition Award
2006 Honorable Mention - First annual Padre Martini Fugue Award
2006 Jessica Holland Memorial Scholarship
2005 Lotte Pulvermacher-Egers Award for outstanding achievement in the field of Music History, Art History,
and the humanities
2005 Mannes Class of 2005 Valedictorian and Representative
2003 Award of Highest Distinction for achievement in Counterpoint and Harmony (Paris Schola Cantorum)
2003 National Italian American Federation “Congressman J. Guarini” Scholarship
2001 Award of Excellence in Music Theory (Red Bank Regional High School)
2001 Award of Excellence in Piano (Red Bank Regional High School)
2001 First Prize in Piano, NJ Teen Arts Festival
2001 Winner Algonquin Arts Rising Stars Competition
1998 Knights of Columbus award of Most Outstanding Achievement (Ocean Twp. NJ)
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND MEMBERSHIPS
Amato Opera Company (Rehearsal/performance pianist), NYC, NY
Bach Week Festival Orchestra (Harpsichord/Organist), Princeton, NJ
Mannes Downtown Concert Series (Master of Ceremonies, Host, and Program commentator) NYC, NY
Mannes Baroque Chamber Players (Harpsichord/Organist/Librarian) NYC, NY
Staff Accompanist for Auditions, Classes, and Lessons, Mannes College, NYC, NY
Staff Accompanist for classes and lessons, New School for Jazz, NYC, NY
The Bachanalia Festival Orchestra, New York, NY (Composer-in-Residence/Harpsichordist), NYC, NY
The Mannes Orchestra, (Writer of Program Notes) Mannes College NYC, NY
Chiaroscuro Publishing, (Founder-music editing, arranging, and publishing)
Columbia University Bach Society (Harpsichordist), NYC, NY
Aeolian Collective (Composer-in-Residence), NYC, NY
Second Ave Dance Company (Composer-in-Residence), NYC, NY
ASCAP, New York, NY
Mark Tillinger’s Musical, “Samson” (All original arrangements/musical director), NYC, NY
Founder-ChiaroScuro Publishing, NYC, NY
Founding Member of the Duriusculus Baroque Ensemble, NYC, NY
Ill Tempermant Ensemble (Harpsichordist), NYC, NY
I Cantori New York (Harpsichordist), NYC, NY
Harpsichord Tuning and Maintenance, Mannes College of Music, NYC, NY
Mannes College of Music Admissions (assistant to the director), NYC, NY
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2007-2004 Freelance teaching, tutoring, and lessons in composition, piano, and all aspects of music theory, NYC, NY
2007-2005 Composition and theory teacher for the International Bachalareate Program, The Dwight School, NYC, NY
2007-2003 Piano adjudications and masterclasses given annually, New Jersey Teen Arts Festival, Lincroft, NJ
2007-2003 Staff Tutor in Ear Training, Dictation, Counterpoint, Harmony, Set Theory,
Mannes College of Music, NYC, NY
2002 Mentor to adolescent performers of the Algonquin Arts Rising Stars Program, Manasquan, NJ
2002-2001 English as a Second Language Teacher (private and classes), Language World, Turin, Italy
SELECT PERFORMANCES
2007 Piano and Violin Recital featuring world premiere of Violin Sonata,
Polifunzionario Limina, Italy
2007 JS Bach “Saint John Passion”, organ continuo performed with Fuma Sacra
under the direction of Andrew Megill in Princeton, NJ
2007 World Premiere of “Concertone” for two string orchestras and harpsichord,
conducting the Bachanalia Festival Orchestra from the harpsichord in Merkin Hall, New York City
2007 GF Handel’s “Acis and Galatea” leading the Mannes Baroque Chamber Players from the harpsichord,
Mannes Concert Hall, NYC, NY
2007 World Premiere of Concerto for English Horn with the Mannes Orchestra under David Hayes,
Mannes Concert Hall, NYC, NY
2007 Harpsichord Continuo for Bach’s Coffee Cantata et al. with Mannes Baroque Chamber Players
Mannes Concert Hall, Holy Trinity Church, NYC, NY
2007-2004 Various performances as harpsichordist with the Bachanalia Festival Orchestra,
Merkin Hall, NYC, NY
2006 World Premiere of “Due Giocattoli” for Piano Quartet performed by the Alaria Ensemble,
Weill Hall at Carnegie, NYC, NY
2006 Organ Continuo for Bach Cantatas BWV 133 and 33 with Fuma Sacra uner Andrew Megill
Holy Trinity Church, NYC, NY
2006 Harpsichord and Baroque Violin Recital tour with Sonatas of Corelli, Handel, and Mozart
(on original instruments, A=415) Limina, Messina, Italy and Mannes Concert Hall, NY
2006 World Premiere of Abstraciones for Flt, Cl, Vln, Vcl, Vib, and Pno with the Mannes CIRCE ensemble
Under the direction of Keith Fitch, Mannes Contemporary Music Festival, NYC, NY
2006 Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas”, harpsichord continuo with the Mannes Baroque Chamber Players and Choir
Lead by Nancy Wilson, Mannes Concert Hall, NYC, NY
2005 JS Bach “Magnificat”, harpsichord continuo with Columbia University Bach Society
under the direction of David Rosenmeyer at Columbia University, NY, NY
2005 Harpsichord Continuo for G.F. Haendel’s masque “Apollo and Dafne” with works of Mufatt et. al.
Mannes Baroque Chamber Players lead by Nancy Wilson
Mannes Concert Hall, New York, NY
2005 Harpsichord accompanist for recital of Baroque violinist Nancy Wilson
On period instruments (A=415)
Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ
2005 World Premiere of “Proud Music of the Storm” for double choir and organ, The Hartford Chorale
Under Frank Nemhauser, Christ’s Church, Hartford, CT
2005 Stravinsky “Les Noces” and commissioned arrangement of Walton’s Belshezaar’s Feast
for 4 pianos and percussion, Monmouth Civic Chorus, Mark Shapiro,
Count Basie Theater, Red Bank, NJ
2003 World Premiere of “Lamentationes Prophetae Jeremiah” for Mezzo-soprano Choir, Strings, Harpsichord
I Cantori New York under the direction of Mark Shapiro
New York Society for Ethical Culture, New York, NY
2004 World Premiere of “Unfoldings” for Marimba and Vibraphone, Los Percussiones de Barcelona,
Casa Mila, Barcelona, Spain
2004 Recital with piano and violin featuring sonatas of Mozart, Brahms, and world premiere of “Water Music”
Selina, Limina, Messina, Italy
2003 World Premiere of “Ave Verum Corpus”, Vocal Quintet Greensleeves,
Cathedral of Saint Severin, Paris, France
2002 World Premiere of Hip H’Opera “White Bread” for mixed voices, soloists, dancers, DJ, and ensemble
Conducted from the piano/synthesizer
Tischman Hall, New School University, New York, NY
2002 Solo Piano Lecture/Recital discussing and featuring all original keyboard compositions,
Algonquin Arts Theater, Manasquan, NJ
2001 Mozart Concerto for 2 Pianos in E flat, leading the Red Bank Regional High School Chamber Ensemble
from the piano, Red Bank, NJ
ADDITIONAL MUSICAL QUALIFICATIONS
Baroque Style and History, studied with Fredric Fehleisen, Robin Leaver, Andrew Megill, Myron Lotsky,
Nancy Wilson, New York, NY
Formal Structures in Music, studied with Christopher Stone, New York, NY
Harmony and Counterpoint, studied with Robert Cuckson, New York, NY
Theory Pedagogy, studied with Robert Cuckson, New York, NY
Schenkerian Analysis, studied with Carl Schachter and David Loeb, New York, NY
Music of the Twentieth Century, studied with Faye Ellen Silverman and Robert Cuckson, New York, NY
Harpsichord Tuning and maintenance, studied with Janet Palumbo, Princeton, NJ
Music Publishing and Editing, creation of computer generated scores and parts, Finale/Sibelius
For CV with references please contact Raphael at
fusco.raphael@gmail.com