Italian-American composer, conductor, and keyboardist Raphael Fusco has earned international recognition for music that invites audiences into emotionally resonant musical experiences through lyrical melody, vibrant rhythm, colorful harmony, and compelling musical storytelling. Described by El Mundo as “one of the most outstanding composers of his generation,” by The New York Times as “accomplished and winning,” and by OperaWire as “a leader in the opera world today,” his work spans opera, art song, choral, orchestral, chamber, sacred music, and music for historical instruments.
A composer since the age of eight, Fusco left the United States at sixteen to study at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi in Turin, embarking on an artistic path that continues to bridge American and European musical traditions. Drawing freely from Romantic lyricism, Renaissance polyphony, jazz, popular music, and contemporary techniques, he creates a bold musical language that honors tradition while speaking directly to contemporary listeners. Whether writing for the concert hall, the church, or the opera stage, he seeks to create meaningful musical experiences that explore the shared expressive power of sacred and secular traditions.
A defining milestone in his career comes on May 29, 2027, when Fusco conducts the world premiere of his newly orchestrated An American Requiem at Carnegie Hall with the New England Symphonic Ensemble in a performance presented by MidAmerica Productions. Written in response to the rise of gun violence in the United States, the work reimagines the traditional Requiem in English as a reflection on grief, remembrance, and hope. Its synthesis of Gospel, Romanticism, serialism, Renaissance counterpoint, and contemporary popular idioms exemplifies Fusco's belief that concert music can honor tradition while speaking directly to the concerns of modern audiences. An American Requiem was awarded The American Prize in 2023.
Fusco's compositions have been commissioned by the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Cincinnati Song Initiative, Cecilia Chorus of New York, Hartford Chorale, I Cantori New York, the Mississippi Boys Choir, the Kentucky Music Educators Association, Opernfestival Oberpfalz, Opera Lucca, Classic Lyric Arts Festival, Forum Neue Kunst, the New York Repertory Orchestra, Empire Chamber Orchestra, Bachanalia, I Porporini, and members of both the New York Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera orchestras. His music has been performed throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States at venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Casa Milà in Barcelona, the Oriental Art Center in Shanghai, Église Saint-Séverin in Paris, St. Bavo Kerk in Haarlem, Dvořák House in Prague, and Teatro Titano in the Republic of San Marino.
“An extremely multifaceted, atmospheric tone world of pure poetry and powerful energy.”
— Mittelbayerische Zeitung Regensburg
Opera and vocal music occupy a central place in Fusco's creative output. He has conducted the premieres of his operas inSOMNIA and Der Telefonist in Germany, La canora contesa in Italy, and the first complete performance of An American Requiem in Graz, Austria. Reviewing inSOMNIA, the Mittelbayerische Zeitung praised its “multifaceted, atmospheric tone world of pure poetry and powerful energy,” qualities that continue to distinguish his music across genres.
His compositions have received numerous international honors. Love Songs from a Third Floor Walk-up won First Prize in the 2024 NATS Art Song Composition Award, while Quarantine Camp received Second Prize the previous year. It's a Long Way earned First Prize in the Phoenix Boys Choir New Works Rising Composition Competition, and God Is in All Things received Third Prize in the Fyfe Choral Composition Competition. His work has also been recognized by The American Prize, the Bohuslav Martinů Composition Award, the Padre Martini Fugue Award, the Růžičková Composition Competition, and the Aliénor International Harpsichord Competition.
“A lively player and fine improviser.”
— Los Angeles Times
As a pianist, harpsichordist, and conductor, Fusco has performed with the New York Philharmonic, American Ballet Theatre, Graz Opera, Gotham Chamber Opera, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and the Amherst Early Music Festival, and has toured internationally with Branford Marsalis. His debut recording, REMIXED, featuring original works for solo piano, was praised by Jazz Corner for its “stunning sonic ideas,” while the Los Angeles Times described him as “a lively player and fine improviser.” His affinity for historical keyboard instruments led to artist residencies at the Piccola Accademia di Montisi in Tuscany, where he composed on one of Europe's finest collections of antique keyboards.
Committed to fostering new generations of composers and performers, Fusco is the founder and Artistic Director of the Opera Lucca Composers Institute. He also serves on the faculties of the Institute for European Studies in Vienna, the International Choral Composers Institute, and Classic Lyric Arts His masterclasses and lectures have been presented at institutions including the Manhattan School of Music, Boston University, Sorbonne Université, the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, the Conservatoire de Strasbourg, and the Escuela Superior de Canto de Madrid.
Fusco studied composition, piano, and conducting at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi in Turin, Mannes College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, the Vienna Conservatory, and the École Normale de Musique de Paris. He holds a Doctorate in Artistic Research from the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz. His music is published by Universal Edition Vienna, Alfred Music, Opus Imprints, Ries & Erler, Hinshaw Music, Prima la Musica London, and National Music Publishers. He lives and works in Vienna, Austria.
Der italienisch-amerikanische Komponist, Keyboarder und Dirigent Raphael Fusco wird von der internationalen Presse als "einer der herausragendsten Komponisten seiner Generation (El Mundo)" und als "erfolgreicher und gewinnender Künstler (The New York Times)" gefeiert. Seine genreübergreifenden Kompositionen für Stimme, Kammerensembles, historische Instrumente, Orchester, Oper und Theater wurden von der Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, dem Cecilia Chorus of New York, I Cantori New York, dem Hartford Chorale, dem Opernfestival Oberpfalz, Forum Neue Kunst, der Opera Lucca, dem Classic Lyric Arts Festival, dem German Forum, der New York Repertory Orchestra, dem Empire Chamber Orchestra, Bachanalia, I Porporini und Mitgliedern der New York Philharmonic und Metropolitan Opera Orchestern in Auftrag gegeben. Er hat mit Weltklasse-Künstlern wie dem GRAMMY-prämierten Saxophonisten Branford Marsalis, dem Countertenor Nicholas Tamagna, den Dirigenten Dirk Brossé, Mark Shapiro und vielen anderen zusammengearbeitet. Seine Werke wurden im Carnegie Hall, im Kimmel Center Philadelphia, im Lincoln Center, in der St. Bavo Kerk Haarlem, in Gaudìs Casa Milà in Barcelona, in der Église de Saint Séverin in Paris, im Dvorak House in Prag und im Teatro Titano in San Marino uraufgeführt.
Sein Liederzyklus Quarantine Camp wurde 2023 mit dem 2. Preis im NATS Art Song Composition Competition ausgezeichnet. Im Jahr 2022 dirigierte er die Uraufführungen seines An American Requiem in der Herz Jesu Kirche von Graz und seiner Kantate La canora contesa in Lucca, Italien. Im Juli 2021 dirigierte er die Uraufführungen seiner Opern Der Telefonist in Oldenburg, Deutschland, und inSOMNIA in Amberg, Deutschland ("ein vielschichtiges, atmosphärisches Klanggemälde" Mittelbayerische Zeitung). Sein Debütalbum REMIXED mit Originalkompositionen für Solo-Klavier, das für seine "atemberaubenden Klangideen (Jazz Corner)" gelobt wurde, wurde 2019 veröffentlicht. Im Jahr 2016 führte er sein Saxophonkonzert Alternate Routes mit dem GRAMMY-prämierten Saxophonisten Branford Marsalis auf. Im Jahr 2012 wurde Cecilia Chorus und Orchestra Divis Cetera in der Carnegie Hall uraufgeführt ("ein weises Stück...einfach wunderbar" Theaterscene). Im Jahr 2010 führte die New York Repertory Orchestra seine Sinfonia Drammatica auf. Im Jahr 2007 gab Raphael sein Debüt am Lincoln Center und dirigierte sein Concertone vom Cembalo mit dem Bachanalia Festival Orchestra, und sein Oratorium Lamentations of Jeremiah wurde von Barbara Dever und I Cantori New York im Jahr 2004 an der New York Society for Ethical Culture uraufgeführt. Herr Fusco hat Auszeichnungen von The American Prize for Music, NATS Art Song Composition Competition, Aliénor International Harpsichord Competition, Padre Martini Fugue Award, Bohuslav Martinů Composition Award sowie Stipendien von der National Italian American Foundation und Exploring the Metropolis.
Seine Werke sind bei Universal Edition, Verlag Vienna und Ries & Erler Berlin veröffentlicht. Seit 2019 ist Raphael Fusco als Senior Artist am Institut für Musiktheater an der Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Graz, Österreich tätig, wo er einen Doktorgrad in künstlerischer Forschung verfolgt.Als Pianist und Cembalist hat Herr Fusco mit dem New York Philharmonic, American Ballet Theatre, Gotham Chamber Opera, Graz Opera, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Amherst Early Music Festival und auf Tourneen mit Branford Marsalis aufgetreten. Im Jahr 2013 und 2015 war er Künstler in Residence an der Piccola Academia di Montisi, wo er auf einer der weltbesten Sammlungen historischer Tasteninstrumente komponierte. Er hat Opernproduktionen an der Kunstuniversität Graz, Morningside Opera, Boston University, Amato Opera, Company XIV, The Duke off Broadway und anderen durchgeführt.Raphael studierte Komposition, Klavier und Dirigieren am Mannes College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Conservatorio G. Verdi di Torino, Vienna Konservatorium und Paris Schola Cantorum. Als leidenschaftlicher Pädagoge hat er Meisterkurse an der Escuela Superior de Canto de Madrid, Manhattan School of Music, Boston University, Opera Lucca Festival und Classic Lyric Arts Festival in Italien gegeben.
Il compositore, pianista e direttore d'orchestra italo-americano Raphael Fusco è stato definito dalla stampa internazionale "uno dei più importanti compositori della sua generazione (El Mundo)" e "un artista di successo e carismatico (The New York Times)". Le sue composizioni trasversali per voce, ensemble da camera, strumenti storici, orchestra, opera e teatro sono state commissionate dalla Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, dal Cecilia Chorus of New York, I Cantori New York, dal Hartford Chorale, dall'Opernfestival Oberpfalz, dal Forum Neue Kunst, dall'Opera Lucca, dal Classic Lyric Arts Festival, dal German Forum, dalla New York Repertory Orchestra, dall'Empire Chamber Orchestra, da Bachanalia, da I Porporini e da membri delle orchestre della New York Philharmonic e della Metropolitan Opera. Ha collaborato con artisti di fama mondiale come il sassofonista premio GRAMMY Branford Marsalis, il controtenore Nicholas Tamagna, i direttori Dirk Brossé, Mark Shapiro e molti altri. Le sue opere sono state eseguite per la prima volta al Carnegie Hall, al Kimmel Center di Philadelphia, al Lincoln Center, nella St. Bavo Kerk di Haarlem, nella Casa Milà di Gaudì a Barcellona, nella Église de Saint Séverin a Parigi, nella Dvorak House a Praga e al Teatro Titano di San Marino.
Il suo ciclo di canzoni Quarantine Camp ha ottenuto il secondo premio nella competizione di composizione di art song NATS 2023. Nel 2022 ha diretto le prime mondiali della sua An American Requiem presso la Herz Jesu Kirche di Graz e della sua cantata La canora contesa a Lucca, in Italia. Nel luglio 2021 ha diretto le prime delle sue opere Der Telefonist ad Oldenburg, in Germania, e inSOMNIA ad Amberg, in Germania ("un dipinto sonoro multifaccettato e atmosferico" Mittelbayerische Zeitung). Il suo album di debutto REMIXED, contenente composizioni originali per pianoforte solo lodate per le loro "idee sonore sorprendenti (Jazz Corner)", è stato pubblicato nel 2019. Nel 2016 ha presentato il suo concerto per sassofono Alternate Routes con il sassofonista vincitore del GRAMMY Branford Marsalis. Nel 2012 il Cecilia Chorus and Orchestra ha presentato Divis Cetera alla Carnegie Hall ("un pezzo saggio... semplicemente meraviglioso" Theaterscene). Nel 2010 il New York Repertory Orchestra ha presentato la sua Sinfonia Drammatica. Nel 2007 Raphael ha fatto il suo debutto al Lincoln Center dirigendo il suo Concertone dal clavicembalo con la Bachanalia Festival Orchestra, e il suo oratorio Lamentations of Jeremiah è stato presentato da Barbara Dever e I Cantori New York presso la New York Society for Ethical Culture nel 2004.
Il signor Fusco ha ricevuto premi dall'American Prize for Music, dalla NATS Art Song Composition Competition, dall'Aliénor International Harpsichord Competition, dal Padre Martini Fugue Award, dal Bohuslav Martinů Composition Award e sovvenzioni dalla National Italian American Foundation e dall'Exploring the Metropolis. Le sue opere sono pubblicate dalla Universal Edition e dalla Verlag Vienna e Ries & Erler Berlin. Dal 2019 Raphael Fusco è Senior Artist presso l'Istituto di musica teatrale dell'Università per le arti performative di Graz, in Austria, dove sta perseguendo un dottorato di ricerca artistica.
Come pianista e clavicembalista, il signor Fusco si è esibito con la New York Philharmonic, l'American Ballet Theatre, la Gotham Chamber Opera, la Graz Opera, la Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, l'Amherst Early Music Festival e ha fatto un tour con Branford Marsalis. Nel 2013 e nel 2015 è stato artista in residenza presso la Piccola Academia di Montisi, dove ha composto su una delle più belle collezioni di strumenti a tastiera storici al mondo. Ha diretto produzioni d'opera presso l'Università delle arti di Graz, la Morningside Opera, la Boston University, l'Amato Opera, la Company XIV, il The Duke off Broadway e altri.
Raphael ha studiato composizione, pianoforte e direzione d'orchestra presso il Mannes College of Music, la Manhattan School of Music, il Conservatorio G. Verdi di Torino, il Vienna Konservatorium e la Paris Schola Cantorum. Appassionato educatore, ha tenuto masterclass presso l'Escuela Superior de Canto de Madrid, la Manhattan School of Music.
