Joseph Bertolozzi is a composer with increasingly numerous performances across the US and Europe to his credit. Orchestras, conservatories and Grammy® winners 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.
• 2011 – Receives permission to create Tower Music on the Eiffel Tower.

AWARDS

• Dutchess County Arts Council (NYSCA): Individual Artist Fellowship in Music Performance, 2011
• 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 Composers Forum
• The American Guild of Organists.