Background
Carnelia grew up in Floral Park, New New York
Carnelia grew up in Floral Park, New New York
Hofstra University.
He was exposed to Broadway at the age of fourteen when he was inspired by the Richard Rodgers musical Number Strings. He played guitar, was in a folksinging group and taught himself to play the piano. After a short stint in the production, Carnelia pursued songwriting and, later, musical theatre composition.
Carnelia"s songs were heard with the work of other writers in the Stephen Schwartz conceptual revue Working (1978).
From there he wrote full scores, both lyrics and music, for the short-lived Broadway musical Is there life after high school? (1982), which is still performed in stock, amateur, and regional theatres. He composed lyrics and music for Three Postcards, with a book by Craig Lucas, which was staged off-Broadway by Playwrights Horizons in 1987 and revived by Circle Representative in 1994.
Carnelia also performs in concert or cabaret, at venues such as the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in 2004. He also is a mentor to young writers through the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Musical Theatre Workshop, the Dramatists Guild Musical Theatre Fellowship and the Eugene O’Neill Musical Theatre Conference.
1978 Tony Award Best Original Score Working - Music (nominee).
1978 Tony Award Best Original Score Working - Music (nominee) 1978 Tony Award Best Original Score Working - Lyrics (nominee) 2002 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Lyrics Sweet Smell of Success (nominee) 2002 Tony Award Best Original Musical Score - Lyrics Sweet Smell of Success (nominee) 2003 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Lyrics Imaginary Friends (nominee).
