Robert Bonfiglio (born September 6, 1950)[1] is an American classical harmonica player. Described by the music critic for the Los Angeles Times, as "the Paganini of the harmonica",[2] he is known for his many recordings and live performances featuring the instrument.
Bonfiglio was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son an orthopedic surgeon, and raised in Iowa City, Iowa. He first began playing the diatonic harmonica when he was thirteen, and although he played in local blues bands as a teenager, had no plans to become a professional musician. He enrolled in the University of Arizona to study chemistry, but at the same time became interested in the possibilities of the chromatic harmonica. After travelling to Trossingen, Germany, in the 1970s where he attended a seminar by the master harmonica player, Cham-Ber Huang, he decided on a musical career. He enrolled 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]
Careeredit
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 lifeedit
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]
Live at the Grand Canyon, High Harmony Records, 1994. Recorded at the Grand Canyon Music Festival in September 1993 and September 1994.
Referencesedit
^ abCaso, Frank (2002). "Bonfiglio, Robert". Contemporary Musicians: Profiles of the People in Music. Gale Group. Retrieved online via encyclopedia.com 12 June 2014.
^Swed, Mark (January 12, 1998), "A Big-Time Opener for Little Festival". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 June 2014
^ abField, Kim (2000-04-25). Harmonicas, harps, and heavy breathers: the evolution of the people's instrument. Cooper Square Press. pp. 305–307. ISBN978-0-8154-1020-1. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
^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.
robert, bonfiglio, born, september, 1950, american, classical, harmonica, player, described, music, critic, angeles, times, paganini, harmonica, known, many, recordings, live, performances, featuring, instrument, contents, early, life, education, career, perso. Robert Bonfiglio born September 6 1950 1 is an American classical harmonica player Described by the music critic for the Los Angeles Times as the Paganini of the harmonica 2 he is known for his many recordings and live performances featuring the instrument Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Discography 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and education editBonfiglio was born in Milwaukee Wisconsin the son an orthopedic surgeon and raised in Iowa City Iowa He first began playing the diatonic harmonica when he was thirteen and although he played in local blues bands as a teenager had no plans to become a professional musician He enrolled in the University of Arizona to study chemistry but at the same time became interested in the possibilities of the chromatic harmonica After travelling to Trossingen Germany in the 1970s where he attended a seminar by the master harmonica player Cham Ber Huang he decided on a musical career He enrolled 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 editAfter 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 Colon 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 Espanola Orchestra Real Orquesta Sinfonica 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 editBonfiglio 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 editBonfiglio 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 edit a b Caso Frank 2002 Bonfiglio Robert Contemporary Musicians Profiles of the People in Music Gale Group Retrieved online via encyclopedia com 12 June 2014 Swed Mark January 12 1998 A Big Time Opener for Little Festival Los Angeles Times Retrieved 12 June 2014 a b Field Kim 2000 04 25 Harmonicas harps and heavy breathers the evolution of the people s instrument Cooper Square Press pp 305 307 ISBN 978 0 8154 1020 1 Retrieved 25 April 2011 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 http robert bonfiglio com main bio php Crist Nanette February 13 2014 Blowing Emotion Florida Weekly Retrieved 12 June 2014 External links editOfficial website History of the Grand Canyon Music Festival Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Bonfiglio amp oldid 1176312014, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
