Giuseppe Di Bianco

Education

Giuseppe Di Bianco holds degrees in Piano, Composition, Choral conducting and Music Didactics from the Conservatories of Salerno and San Pietro a Majella of Naples, graduating Summa cun Laude and Honorable Mention in Foreign Languages and Modern Literatures, with a post Lauream Master at Rome University. His training includes piano studies with György Sándor, Alexandre Hintchev; compositional studies under Enrico Buondonno (pupil of Licinio Refice) and masterclasses at Scuola di Musica di Fiesole (Florence), Accademia Chigiana (Chigiana Musical Academy) of Siena and Conservatorio of "Santa Cecilia" (Rome) with Giacomo Manzoni, Luis Andriessen, Peter Maxwell Davies, Louis De Pablo; analysis seminars with Jean - Jacques Nattiez, Janet Schmalfeldt (Tufts University, MA).

Artistic activity

Active as a pianist, teacher and composer, with a particular interest in choral composition, Giuseppe Di Bianco has gained international recognition winning first prizes in many composition competitions: 1st prize at the 13th International Trophy of Choral Composition Competition "Seghizzi" (Gorizia, IT, 2016); VIII International "Amadeus" Choral Composition Competition (Badajoz, Spain, 2014); V International "Choir Laboratory, XXI Century" Competition, (St. Petersburg, RUS, 2012); XI "A.C.P." National Choral Composition Competition, Regione Piemonte (IT), 2012, "A.R.C.C. Award" "La canzone napoletana in polifonia" (IT), 2009; International Choral Award "José Ribeiro de Sousa" (Alqueidão da Sierra, Portugal), 2008; XI International Composition Award by Federcoritrentino (Trento), 2001, etc.

His choral works In Laude and In pace were chosen to be compulsory pieces at 44th and 55th International Choral Competition "C. A. Seghizzi" (Gorizia, Italy) in the "contemporary section". In 2008, in Naples, he was awarded the "Franco Caracciolo" National Prize for the best choral sacred composition based on a Lutheran text. On the same year he was invited by Dr. Sue T. Klausmeyer (University of North Carolina, USA) as composer-in-residence at Chapel Hill Campus (NC, USA).

In 2014 he was awarded the FENIARCO prize (Italian National Choral Federation) for his original choral score "Madonna de lu Carmene", on Neapolitan language text.

His choral music has been commissioned and included in the repertoire of Italian and foreign choral ensembles: Coro di Voci Bianche of Santa Cecilia Academy, Rome, "Coro da Camera di Torino" (IT), "Academic choir of Aarhus" (DK), "E STuudio Noortenkor" (EST), University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors (UPSA, Quezon city, Philippines), "San Josè State University Choraliers" (San Josè, CA, USA), "Cantari" vocal ensemble, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; "Quire of Voyces", Santa Barbara, CA, USA; NYME, "New York Miniaturist ensemble", etc.

Among the various collaborations and première entrusted to international soloists and conductors: Charlene Archibeque, R. Paul Crabb, Mario Caroli, Eric Carlson, T. J. Harper, Sue T. Klausmeyer, Nathan Kreitzer, Ed Manguiat, Uffe Most, Terry Rhodes, Alessandro Ruo Rui, Mattia Sanguineti, Mauro Squillante, Dario Tabbia, Sante Tursi, Jonathan Talberg, Ciro Visco).

His choral music has been performed in Italy and abroad (the Vatican City, France, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Philippines, URSS and United States) including important premieres and venues (the mottetto "Angele Dei" had its Italian première in Rome at St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, 2010) and included as part of international choral festivals, such as the 44th Competition "C. A. Seghizzi" of Gorizia and 60th International "Guido D'Arezzo" Choral Festival, Arezzo, 2012; 14th International Choral Competition "Gallus", Mairbor (Slovenia), the International Choral Festival of Saint - Petersburg (RU).

He is also active as a pianist, with particular regard to the chamber music repertoire, performing in important festivals and venues organized by accredited musical associations: Ravello Concert Society, Concerti dell’Università di Roma 3, Roma; Concerts at "Chiostro del Paradiso" of Amalfi; "Santa Sofia" Music Festival of Benevento; I Giovedì musicali di S. Rosa, Conca dei Marini; Estate musicale sorrentina, Sorrento, Concerti a Villa Guariglia, Vietri sul Mare; Teatro "G. Verdi", Salerno; Teatro Tasso, Sorrento; Teatro Comunale of Carpi (Mo), Auditorium "Oscar Niemeyer" of Ravello, Festival Teatro de’ Barbuti, Salerno, etc.).

In 2009 he founded the "Limen" chamber trio (piano, flute and voice), aimed at enhancing and spreading rare repertoires and specific monographs.

His choral compositions are published in Italy by Federcoritrentino, FENIARCO Ed. (choral anthology "Melos 3" and "Voci & Tradizione" - Piemonte) and Kompositor Publishing House (St. Petersburg, RU), and recorded by "Coro da Camera di Torino" in their CD "Made in Italy" (2015). On November 2016 he has been invited as guest composer at "Fine Arts and Music University" (愛知県立芸術大学) of Aichi, Japan, where two choral works of his have been premiered.

In 2013 his composition Kublai was chosen for the "Invisible Cities Project", an international composition project, freely inspired to Italo Calvino's book. The project includes works from composers from all over the world (Carlo Domeniconi, Victor Kioulaphides, Alexey Larin, etc.)

He has lectured on musicologic topics ("Musica poetica" by Joachim Burmeister at Fondazione Menna of Salerno, 1998; "Linguaggi, invention, percorsi critici tra tradizione e contemporaneità" at 36th European Conference on Musical Education and Choral music in Gorizia (2005), at the University of Salerno ("The new research of Melopoiesis", 2007)) and at the Historical Convention of "Capodanno Bizantino" with Roberto De Simone, promoted by “Centro di Cultura e Storia Amalfitana" of Amalfi (InCanti di Sirene: topografia musicale di un mito, dal Mediterraneo ai Mari del Nord, 2015); "Per un'analisi dello stile compositivo di Nobuya Monta", 2016).

Some of his compositions have been accepted into the online PROJECT : ENCORE database of Schola Cantorum on Hudson.

He currently lives and works in Maiori, on the enchanting Coast of Amalfi (IT), collaborating into several projects including music, literature and theatre.

Awards and special honors

Choral works (original compositions)

• Lumen - SATB a cappella (2017)
• The Fairy Lullaby - SSA, 2 solists, piano, flute (2016)
• Alleluja - SATB and organ (2016)
• In pace - SSATB a cappella (2014)
• Victimae paschali laudes - SATB a cappella (2013)
• Madonna de lu Carmene - Solo, SATB (2011) [Special National Prize FENIARCO, for an original piece with Neapolitan language]
• Angele Dei - SATB a cappella (2010) [1st Prize, V International "Choir Laboratory, XXI Century" Competition, St. Petersburg, URSS, 2012]
• Salmo 148 - SATB, piano (2007) ["Franco Caracciolo" National Prize, best choral sacred composition on a Lutheran text, Naples 2008]
• Silentium (Volatizzazione di Dosso Casina) - TTBB a cappella (2007) [1st Prize, Choral Composition Contest “Soldanella” at Brentonico (Tn), ITA, 2007]
• In laude - SSATBB a cappella (2004) [Finalist, 2nd International Competition for Choral Composition “C.A. Seghizzi” (Gorizia, ITA, 2005)]
• Salmo 95 – for SATB choir, piano (2002)
• As if the sea should part (E. Dickinson) - SATTB a cappella (2002)
• Mistero della casa - (introitus), SATB, 2 T.be, C.no, Tb.ne, organo (2002)
• Sia lode alla pietra angolare - (offertorium), SATB, organ (2002)
• Ave Maria – SATB a cappella (1996) / SSAA arrangement available
• Agnus Dei – SATB a cappella (1992)

Choral arrangements

• Italian popular tunes from Piemonte (2012)
• Four popular tunes extremeñas (from "Cancioneiro de Entre Mar e Serra" da Alta Extremadura) (2008-2013)
• Italian popular tunes from Veneto (2008)
• Two Italian traditional Christmas tunes by St. Alfonso de' Liguori (2008)

- Quanno nascette ninno (SATB, piano)

- Tu scendi dalle stelle (SATB, piano)

• The meeting at Peterloo, based on an old English ballad; SATB divisi a cappella (2001), 1st Prize, XI International Composition Award by Federcoritrantino (Trento), ITA, 2001
• Pop in choir II – arranged for a cappella choir (2000)
• Pop in choir I – three arrangements for a cappella choir (1999)
• Italian popular tunes from Trentino Alto Adige (1996)
• Heilige Nacht (trad.) (1996), (SSA and wind quintet)
• Amazing grace (trad.), for medium voice, SATB, piano (1993)
• Italian popular tunes from Friuli Venezia Giulia (1993)
• Two traditional Christmas songs (1992)

- Stille nacht (F. Gruber) - SATB or TTBB and piano

- White Christmas (I. Berlin) - SATB or TTBB and piano; S,T, wind quintet

• Two negro spiritual (1991)

- He never said a mumblin' word (SATB)

- Wade in de water (soprano, SATB)

• Neapolitan traditional songs, for a cappella choir (1993 - 2013)

- Cantata a fronne è limone (SAT)

- Cicerenella (SSATB)

- La ballata della trasportatrice a spalla (SATB)

- La fiera de mast Àndrea (SATB divisi), 1st prize, II “A.R.C.C. Award”, “La canzone napoletana in polifonia” (ITA), 2008

- La scarpetta (SATB), 1st prize, XI “A.C.P.” National Choral Composition Competition, Regione Piemonte (ITA), Torino 2012

- Lu cardillo (SATB)

- Luna nova (SATB), 2nd prize (1st not assigned), III "A.R.C.C. Award", "La canzone napoletana in polifonia" (ITA), 2010

- Ò Marenariello (SATB divisi), 2nd prize (1st not assigned), III "A.R.C.C. Award", "La canzone napoletana in polifonia" (ITA), 2010

- Palummella (SATB), 2010

- Ritornello delle lavandare del Vomero (SAT / SSA), 1993

Chamber music

• Kublai (après une image invisible) - per mandolino e chitarra (2013)
• Mentis motus – per pianoforte, xylofono, marimba e timpani (1995)

- trascrizione per quintetto di fiati (2003)

• Threnos - per clarinetto (commento sonoro a The mystic swan, film muto di T. Edison ) (2007)
• Parthenope (Litania, Moresca, Giga) – Suite per trio d’archi (2007)
• Quartetto - per archi (2007)
• Quelli che vanno - per flauto (2008)
• Wolfgang… remastered (pastiche su temi mozartiani) – per Baritono, Ottavino, Trombone e quartetto d’archi (2003)

Songs

• Two poems by H. Hesse (1991)

- Nacht

- Bitte

• Ave Maria – soprano and piano (1993)
• Tre liriche per soprano, on Rimbaud's poems (1994)

- Sensation

- Marine

- Tête de faune

Commissions

• 2017 - Lumen (SATB), Commissioned by FENIARCO (I) for "Officina Corale del Futuro" Project (premiered by "Coro Giovanile Campano")
• 2015 - Terra mia (SATB), Commissioned by "Kantika Vocal Ensemble", dir. Raffaela Scafuri
• 2014 - In pace (SSATB), Commissioned by "Coro da Camera di Torino", dir. Dario Tabbia
• 2013 - Victimae paschali laudes, Coro "Stella del Mare", Cecina (LI)
• 2012 - "La musica della Costa d'Amalfi", CD arrangements commissioned by Orchestra Mandolinistica "Le corde della Costa d'Amalfi"
• 2008 - Venite, exultemus, Commissioned by "Carolina International Chorale", Chapel Hill, NC, USA
• 2007 - Parthenope Suite, Commissioned by "Officina Musicale" for the International "Fiera della liuteria contemporanea", Cremona, 2007