Claudio Gnarini

He began to study pianoforte and sacred music at the age of 11 with Maestro Ivano Cecina.

He continued his studies at the Conservatories of Lucca and Parma, where he perfected his pianoforte studies under Maestro Piero Barbareschi and where he studied composition and choral direction under Maestro Mario Fiorentini.

He began his activity in organ liturgy at the age of 14 which he still continues today..

He has frequented many seminaries and courses on orchestra direction all over Italy, along with courses for choir directors thus perfecting over the years his directorial technique.

Over the years he has explored in depth diverse musical panoramas. He founded and directed from 1982 to 1986 la "Schola Cantorum S. Michele Arcangelo" of Ponzano Superiore.

He has sung as bass/baritone in various choirs and has been invited as guest director in many choral groups in the province of La Spezia and Massa Carrara.

From 1990 to 2006 he directed the Coro San Leonardo of S. Stefano di Magra.

In 1992 the Bishopric of La Spezia endowed him with the "Ferdinando Maberini" award for his 16 years of activity as choir director and liturgical organist.

After having directed many polyphonic choirs, that distinguished themselves for their execution of pieces “a cappella”, of classical, sacred and religious pieces, in 1995 he undertook the study of Afro-American music, furthering his education of a particular and fascinating style of music: Spiritual and its evolution into modern Gospel. He has participated in seminars and conferences in perfecting this kind of music, which knows how to capture the souls and hearts of those who sing and those who listen.

He has collaborated with important American names in gospel music, among whom emerge the American musician Nehemiah Hunter Brown, pianist, singer and composer, Cheryl Porter, Sybil Smoot, Jeffrey Jones, Edna Muse, Marietta Harris, J.K.Foster, Janice Buxton, Leona Laviscount.

From these artistic collaborations many friendships flourished, consolidated by numerous concerts and artistic collaborations in Italy and abroad. His encounter with Gospel music since many years has allowed him to collaborate with Gospel groups of national and international fame, such as : Florence Gospel Choir, The New Voices of Joy, Anno Domini, St. Jacob's Choir, Free Voices Gospel Choir, collaborations that have always made up an important growth factor within a musical and human profile. He has never abandoned classical music, which is where his musical formation stems from. In fact he collaborates with operatic singers and with different symphonic orchestras, both Italian and foreign for sacred, operatic and symphonic music concerts. Today he is the artistic director of the Arts Academy Choir of La Spezia which he founded in November 2006, as well as President of the homonymous cultural and artistic association.

His great passion for music has brought him to organise Gospel and classical music events with the sole aim of promoting cultural and musical exchanges: in fact he organises many charity concerts with the aim of gathering funds to help the less fortunate; he thinks up and organises many social, cultural and recreative events on behalf of public and private institutions, for committees and associations.

This constant search for new artistic experiences, the desire to discover new kinds of music and the strength and passion that animate them, have recently brought him to undertake, together with his choir, the study of jazz music, by way of musical tributes to great names such as: Duke Ellington. George Gershwin, Irving Berlin e Cole Porter.

Components

Sopranos

Contraltos

Tenors

Bassi

Musicians

Stefanini Michele