Meet the Musicians

Giuseppe Pietraroia

Resident Conductor

Rooted in ten years of studies in saxophone, Giuseppe Pietraroia's formal training in music culminated in 1992, when he received a Master's degree in orchestral conducting from McGill University, as a student of Timothy Vernon. Other teachers have included Gustav Meier, Kirk Muspratt, and Paul Vermel.

Mr. Pietraroia's conducting career has included numerous distinctions. In 1992 he participated in the Nicolai Malko Competition for Young Conductors held in Copenhagen, and in 1994 a grant from the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec enabled him to hone his conducting skills by attending courses at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, Italy. From 1997 to 1999 Mr. Pietraroia was Music Director of the West Island Youth Symphony Orchestra in Montreal, and was appointed Visiting Assistant Professor for the 1999.00 academic year at Plattsburgh State University in New York. In 1999 and 2000, Giuseppe was the resident conductor of the Montreal International Music Camp and during 2000.01 he was the Staff Conductor of the McGill University Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Pietraroia's repertoire has continued to broaden with his involvement in opera. He served as assistant conductor for the 1996 production of Faust presented by Opera Lyra of Ottawa, as well as several Pacific Opera Victoria productions, including Un Ballo in Maschera, Tosca, Werther, and conducted their productions of Il Barbiere Di Siviglia, La Traviata, La Boheme and most recently Lucia di Lammermoor. In 2001 Giuseppe conducted the world premiere of Eyes on the Mountain, an opera by Christopher Donison produced by the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s Opera Studio. Giuseppe has appeared as a guest with Orchestra London as well as the Lachine Music Festival in Montreal.

Upcoming engagements include Bellini’s Norma for Pacific Opera as well as concerts in the Victoria Symphony’s Odyssey, Pops and Kids series’.

Giuseppe is currently in his second season as the Conductor-in-Residence with both Pacific Opera and the Victoria Symphony.

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