John Ferritto
Encyclopedia
John E. Ferritto was an American
composer, conductor, and music professor.
He graduated with honors in piano and violin performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music
, and also holds a M.M.
in composition from Yale University
, where he studied piano with Ward Davenny, conducting with Gustav Meier, and composition with Mel Powell
. He also studied at the American Academy in Rome and at Tanglewood
, with Gunther Schuller
, and Erich Leinsdorf
.
He made his conducting debut with the U.S. Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra on tour in Germany, France, and Italy. He was associate conductor of the New Haven Symphony, Conductor of the Chamber Orchestra of the North Shore in Chicago, and director/conductor of the American Federation of Musicians Congress of Strings in Cincinnati.
As a guest conductor, he has appeared with the Radio Television Orchestra of Bucharest, the State Orchestra of Greece, the Toledo Symphony, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra
(Ohio), the Charleston S.C. Symphony, the Michigan Chamber Orchestra, Eastern Music Festival
, the New Haven Opera, the New Haven Ballet, and the American Ballet Theatre
. He has conducted the Orchestras of both the Peabody Conservatory and the Cleveland Institute of Music, and is the former director of the Kent/Blossom Summer Music program.
Additionally, he was Conductor Laureate of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra in Springfield, Ohio
, after serving as Music Director and Conductor, a post he held from 1971.
He served on the theory and composition faculties at the University of Chicago
, the University of Texas at Austin
, and was Professor Emeritus of Composition at Kent State University
.
Ferritto was married to the violist
Marcia Ferritto.
John Ferritto died on January 7th, 2010.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer, conductor, and music professor.
He graduated with honors in piano and violin performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music
Cleveland Institute of Music
The Cleveland Institute of Music is an independent music conservatory located in the University Circle district of Cleveland, Ohio, United States and is overseen by president Joel Smirnoff and Adrian Daly, dean....
, and also holds a M.M.
Master of Music
The Master of Music is the first graduate degree in Music awarded by universities and music conservatories. The M.Mus. combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization with graduate-level academic study in subjects such as music history, music theory, or music pedagogy...
in composition from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where he studied piano with Ward Davenny, conducting with Gustav Meier, and composition with Mel Powell
Mel Powell
Mel Powell was a jazz pianist and composer of classical music.Mel Epstein was born to Russian Jewish parents, Milton Epstein and Mildred Mark Epstein, and began playing piano as a child. He performed jazz professionally in New York City as a teenager...
. He also studied at the American Academy in Rome and at Tanglewood
Tanglewood
Tanglewood is an estate and music venue in Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is the home of the annual summer Tanglewood Music Festival and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, and has been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937. It was the venue of the Berkshire Festival.- History...
, with Gunther Schuller
Gunther Schuller
Gunther Schuller is an American composer, conductor, horn player, author, historian, and jazz musician.- Biography and works :...
, and Erich Leinsdorf
Erich Leinsdorf
Erich Leinsdorf was a naturalized American Austrian conductor. He performed and recorded with leading orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States and Europe, earning a reputation for exacting standards as well as an acerbic personality...
.
He made his conducting debut with the U.S. Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra on tour in Germany, France, and Italy. He was associate conductor of the New Haven Symphony, Conductor of the Chamber Orchestra of the North Shore in Chicago, and director/conductor of the American Federation of Musicians Congress of Strings in Cincinnati.
As a guest conductor, he has appeared with the Radio Television Orchestra of Bucharest, the State Orchestra of Greece, the Toledo Symphony, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra
Columbus Symphony Orchestra
The Columbus Symphony is an American symphony orchestra based in Columbus, Ohio. The oldest performing arts organization in the city, its home is the Ohio Theatre. The orchestra's current President and Chief Creative Officer is Roland Valliere...
(Ohio), the Charleston S.C. Symphony, the Michigan Chamber Orchestra, Eastern Music Festival
Eastern Music Festival
The Eastern Music Festival and School, founded in 1961 in Greensboro, North Carolina, is a nationally renowned classical music festival of the performing arts and institute for young musicians that runs for five weeks during the summer. The institute accepts gifted students of ages 14 through 22...
, the New Haven Opera, the New Haven Ballet, and the American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...
. He has conducted the Orchestras of both the Peabody Conservatory and the Cleveland Institute of Music, and is the former director of the Kent/Blossom Summer Music program.
Additionally, he was Conductor Laureate of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra in Springfield, Ohio
Springfield, Ohio
Springfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Clark County. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio and is situated on the Mad River, Buck Creek and Beaver Creek, approximately west of Columbus and northeast of Dayton. Springfield is home to Wittenberg...
, after serving as Music Director and Conductor, a post he held from 1971.
He served on the theory and composition faculties at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, and was Professor Emeritus of Composition at Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
.
Ferritto was married to the violist
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
Marcia Ferritto.
John Ferritto died on January 7th, 2010.
Selected works
- Quattro diversioni for clarinet, viola and piano, Op.3 (1966)
- Quattro madrigali for baritone, alto flute and bass clarinet, Op.5
- Canzone for unaccompanied viola, Op.8 (1968)
- Omaggio a Berio e Fellini for orchestra, Op.11
- Quartetto for flute, horn, viola and piano, Op.13 (1974)
- Fantasy Duo for viola and piano, Op.20 (1984)
- String Quartet, Op.21 (1988)
- Movement for viola and percussion orchestra, Op.22 (1989)
- Duo Toccata for viola and cello, Op.24 (1990)
- Concerto fiori, for oboe and strings, Op.25 (for Sara Bloom)
- Dialogues I for marimba and string quartet, Op.33
- Dialogues II for alto saxophone and string quartet, Op.34
- Violin and Viola Duo, Op.35 (2000)
- Woodwind Quintet for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon, Op.38
- Abstractions, Duo for viola and piano, Op.39 (2001)
- Violette for 2 violas, Op.40 (2001)