Songs of the Heart: Music for Voice and Guitar

The American classical guitarist, Giovanni De Chiaro, made his debut in 1976 in a Carnegie Hall performance that brought a rave notice from the New York Times and launched a career of distinction. He has presented seven solo recitals at Carnegie Hall and more recently performed there with the Mississippi Guitar Quartet, an ensemble he established. He has concertized throughout the United States, South America, Canada, Europe and Mexico and has performed for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in Rome. He also was invited to perform for President and Mrs. Bill Clinton for two special Christmas functions at the White House. Mr. De Chiaro is a recording artist for Centaur Records in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He has recorded his guitar transcriptions of the complete works of Scott Joplin, two Christmas CDs, a Broadway Collection and a Wedding Album. His latest release entitled "Melodie d'Amore" features his guitar transcriptions of familiar piano masterpieces from the Romantic Period. He has published extensively with the Willis Music Publishing Company and has released four anthologies of his transcriptions with Mel Bay Publications. Mr. De Chiaro has recorded two nationally televised programs for PBS which have won top honors at several national and international film festivals. He was also featured on the National Public Radio program "All Things Considered" discussing and performing several of his Scott Joplin transcriptions. His recordings are regularly featured on the NPR programs "Classical Guitar Alive" and "Performance Today". Mr. De Chiaro retired as Professor of Guitar at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, having served there for twenty-five years. At present he is Artist in Residence for the Rapides Parish School System in Alexandria, Louisiana, where he is developing a string program. Mr. De Chiaro is the founder and director of the Carlow Choir, a vocal ensemble which has presented concerts of sacred music throughout the United States.