Education
Born in 1954 in Brooklyn, New York, Musto studied at the Manhattan School of Music.
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John Musto Edit Profile
Career
As a composer, he is active in opera, orchestral and chamber music, song, vocal ensemble, and solo piano works. As a pianist, he performs frequently as a soloist, alone and with orchestra, as a chamber musician, and with singers. After graduation from the conservatory with a reputation as a pianist, his compositions began to draw increasing attention and frequent performances.
His long association with such institutions as the New York Festival of Song (including serving as new music advisor), the Wolf Trap Opera Company, the Caramoor Festival, Copland House, the Miller Theatre at Columbia University, and the Moab Festival have given him stable bases of operation and numerous commissions.
He served as composer-in-residence at Caramoor for the 2005-2006 season. In 1986, he began to build a catalogue of published compositions at Peermusic Classical, which continues to grow steadily.
Their son Joshua was born in 1994. Orchestra
Overture to Pope Joan (1998) full orchestra
Passacaglia (2003) large orchestra
Piano and Orchestra
Piano Concerto 1 (2005) piano solo with full orchestra.
Premiered at Caramoor with the composer at the piano
Piano Concerto 2 (2005) piano solo with chamber orchestra.
Premiered at Columbia University with the composer at the piano
Voice and Orchestra
Encounters (1992) tenor and full orchestra
Dove Sta Amore (1996) soprano and chamber orchestra
Quiet Songs (orchestrated 2009) soprano and chamber orchestra
Opera
Volpone (2004) comic opera in two acts with a libretto by Mark Campbell, commissioned by Wolf Trap
Later the Same Evening (2007) opera in one act with a libretto by Mark Campbell. Professional premiered scheduled for Glimmerglass, July 2011
Bastianello (2008) comic opera in one act with a libretto by Mark Campbell
The Inspector (2011), comic opera with a libretto by Mark Campbell based on Gogol
Chamber Music
Piano Trio (1998) violin, violoncello and piano
Divertimento (1999) flute, clarinet, viola, violoncello, piano and percussion
Clarinet Sextet (2001) clarinet, string quartet and piano
Piano Solo
Five Concert Rags (1991-1998)
Improvisation and Fugue (2008)
Two Pianos
Symphonic Dances from "West Side Story" (arr 1998)
Passacaglia (arr 2009)
Vocal Chamber Music
The Old Gray Couple (1994) soprano, baritone with piano four-hands
The Book of Uncommon Prayer (2001) SATB with piano
River Songs (2002) baritone, violoncello and piano
Choral
Starsong (1997) SATB, harp and two horns
Five Motets (2001) a capella mixed chorus
Voice and Piano
Two by Frost (1986)
Canzonettas (1984)
Enough Rope (1985)
Shadow of the Blues (1986)
Recuerdo (1988)
Quiet Songs (1990)
Dove Sta Amore (1996)
Penelope (2000)
Viva Sweet Love (2005)
Triolet (1987)
Lament (1988)
Flamenco (2000)
I Stop Writing the Poem (2001)
Old Photograph (2001)
San Jose Symphony Reception (2001)
Words To Be Spoken (2001)
Nude at the Piano (2003).
Membership
In 1984 John Musto married the soprano Amy Burton, a member of the New York City and Metropolitan Opera companies.
