John Giordano
Encyclopedia
John Read Giordano is an American orchestra conductor, professor of music, composer, and former concert saxophonist. He is Associate Professor of Music at Texas Christian University
. He is Music Director Emeritus of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
where he served as Music Director and Conductor for 27 years, Founder of the Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra, Jury Chairman of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
since 1973, Music Director Emeritus of the Youth Orchestra of Greater Fort Worth, Founder and Director of the Colorado College
Summer Music Festival and Conservatory, Director of Chamber Music for the Bowdoin
Summer Music Festival, International Guest Conductor, published composer and arranger with an extensive award winning discography.
with the BBC Symphony Chamber Orchestra
performing Jacques Ibert
's Concertino da Camera under the direction of Francis Chagrin
on May 12, 1971. In December of 1971, Giordano toured France and Belgium, performing concert saxophone on Flemish and French radio and television and in the cities of Tubize
, Dinant
, Brussels
, Enghien
, Antwerp, Paris
, Givet
, and Marcinelle
.
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
. He is Music Director Emeritus of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Fort Worth, Texas. The orchestra performs at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in downtown Fort Worth...
where he served as Music Director and Conductor for 27 years, Founder of the Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra, Jury Chairman of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition was first held in 1962 in Fort Worth, Texas and is hosted by Van Cliburn Foundation. It was created by Fort Worth area teachers in honor of Van Cliburn, who had won the first International Tchaikovsky Competition four years prior with Tchaikovsky's...
since 1973, Music Director Emeritus of the Youth Orchestra of Greater Fort Worth, Founder and Director of the Colorado College
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
Summer Music Festival and Conservatory, Director of Chamber Music for the Bowdoin
Bowdoin
-Places:In the United States:* Bowdoin College, in Brunswick, Maine* Bowdoin, Maine, a town* Bowdoin Street , in Massachusetts** Bowdoin * Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge, Montana...
Summer Music Festival, International Guest Conductor, published composer and arranger with an extensive award winning discography.
Education
Giordano holds the following diplomas:- 1960 — Texas Christian UniversityTexas Christian UniversityTexas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
, Bachelor of Music Education (composition) - Texas Christian UniversityTexas Christian UniversityTexas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
, Master of MusicMaster of MusicThe 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... - Conservatoire Royal de Musique, BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Diploma Superieure (Fulbright Scholar) - University of North TexasUniversity of North TexasThe University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
, Doctor of Musical ArtsDoctor of Musical ArtsThe Doctor of Musical Arts degree is a doctoral academic degree in music. The D.M.A. 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. The D.M.A...
Published work & academic appointments
- Fantasy, for Alto Saxophone and Piano, Southern Music Co., San Antonio (c1969)
- March 1966 — While a grad student at the University of North TexasUniversity of North TexasThe University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
College of Music, Giordano was appointed Assistant Conductor of the Fort Worth Youth Symphony when it was formed.
- April 13, 1966 — Giordano premiered a composition for saxophone wind ensemble, performed by the Dallas Symphony. He composed the work through his involvement with the Composer-Performer Workshop at the University of North Texas. Another one of his compositions, built a 12-tone theme, was simply read by the orchestra during rehearsal.
- July 11, 1966 — The University of North Texas regents approved the appointment of Giordano to teach in the College of Music as Artist in Residence. Giordano served at the University of North TexasUniversity of North TexasThe University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
until 1973, when, a year earlier, he was appointed conductor of the Fort Worth Symphony.
Saxophonist
Giordano is known well as a symphony conductor. But he also had a distinguished career as a saxophonist. Early in his career, one of his notable performances was in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
with the BBC Symphony Chamber Orchestra
BBC Orchestras and Singers
BBC Orchestras and Singers refers collectively to a number of orchestras, choirs and other musical ensembles, maintained by the BBC.-Current list of ensembles:* BBC Concert Orchestra* BBC National Orchestra of Wales* BBC Philharmonic...
performing Jacques Ibert
Jacques Ibert
Jacques François Antoine Ibert was a French composer. Having studied music from an early age, he studied at the Paris Conservatoire and won its top prize, the Prix de Rome at his first attempt, despite studies interrupted by his service in World War I.Ibert pursued a successful composing career,...
's Concertino da Camera under the direction of Francis Chagrin
Francis Chagrin
Francis Chagrin ,) was a composer of film scores and popular orchestral music, as well as a conductor.- Career :...
on May 12, 1971. In December of 1971, Giordano toured France and Belgium, performing concert saxophone on Flemish and French radio and television and in the cities of Tubize
Tubize
Tubize is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant. On January 1 2006 Tubize had a total population of 22,335. The total area is 32.66 km² which gives a population density of 684 inhabitants per km²....
, Dinant
Dinant
Dinant is a Walloon city and municipality located on the River Meuse in the Belgian province of Namur, Belgium. The Dinant municipality includes the old communes of Anseremme, Bouvignes-sur-Meuse, Dréhance, Falmagne, Falmignoul, Foy-Notre-Dame, Furfooz, Lisogne, Sorinnes, and Thynes.-Origins to...
, Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Enghien
Enghien
Enghien is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Enghien had a total population of 11,980. The total area is 40.59 km² which gives a population density of 295 inhabitants per km²....
, Antwerp, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Givet
Givet
Givet is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France very close to the Belgian border. It lies on the river Meuse where Emperor Charles V built the fortress of Charlemont....
, and Marcinelle
Marcinelle
Marcinelle is a Walloon town in the Belgian province of Hainaut, it is currently a municipality within the Charleroi borders. Until 1977, the town was a municipality of its own....
.
Family
John Giordano is married to Mary Alice Giordano (nee Damnann). They have three children:- Jacqueline Anne Giordano (b Feb 1, 1966 Denton, TX) (m Stephen B Lasko, 1992, Fort Worth)
- Ellen Elaine Giordano (b Aug 2, 1968, Denton, TX) (m Stewart G Austin, Jr. 1994, Fort Worth)
- John Bishop Giordano (b Dec 8, 1969, Denton, TX) (m Veronica F Barron, Aug 31, 1995, Fort Worth)
External links
- Biography, Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra