Joseph Bertolozzi is a composer with increasingly numerous performances across the US and Europe to his credit. Groups such as the Grammy Award-winning Chestnut Brass Company and The Concert Band of the US Military Academy at West Point perform his music, and he himself has played at such diverse venues as The Vatican and The US Tennis Open. For a full bio see the PRESS KIT page on this website.

BRIEF TIMELINE

• 1959 - Born in Poughkeepsie, NY
• 1968 - Begins organ lessons with Raymond Canfield Corey (and later Kay & Donald Pearson) with the express desire to learn how to write down his own music. He begins composing.
• 1975 - First musical job: Organist and Co-Director of Music at St. Joseph's R.C. Church, Poughkeepsie, NY.
• 1979 - Plays an organ recital at the Vatican; studies composition at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, Italy.
• 1982 - First solo concert tour of Europe: Italy, Poland, Spain.
• 1985 - Second concert tour of Europe, touring Portugal for the US State Dept.
• 1988 - Resumes composing as primary focus rather than organ performance.
• 2002 - Develops The Bronze Collection, becomes a percussionist.
• 2004 - Begins plans for Bridge Music.
• 2008 - Concerts with The Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic.
• 2009 - Bridge Music launches as a permanent installation.

AWARDS

• Dutchess County Executive's Artist's Award, 2009
• New York Foundation of the Arts Fellowship in Music Composition, 2008
• A.S.C.A.P. Standard Award, 2008-1991.
• Dutchess County Arts Council (NYSCA): Individual Artist Fellowship in Music Composition, 2004; general support and project grants: 2003, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1993, 1989, 1982.
• Margaret Fairbank Jory Copying Assistance Program, 1998, 1992.
• Meet The Composer, 1989, 1984.
• US State Department (USIS), 1985 (organ concert tour of Portugal).

EDUCATION

• Much self education thanks to parents who encouraged reading, utilizing Poughkeepsie's Adriance Memorial Library and Vassar College's Skinner Music Library.
• Vassar College, BA composition/theory with Richard Wilson.
• Accademia Musicale Chigiana, (Siena, Italy), composition with Donatoni and Xenakis.
• Juilliard School of Music Evening Division, theory with Emily White.
• Carnegie Hall Professional Training Workshop, contemporary conducting techniques with Boulez.
• Westminster Choir College, courses in sacred music at summer sessions with Helen Kemp and John Bertalot in Children's Choirs, and Don Ivey in Handbells.
• National Pastoral Musicians Summer Sessions, with Michael Joncas in Liturgy and James Hansen in Cantor Studies.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)
• The American Music Center
• The American Guild of Organists.