Mark Gionfriddo is well known to Western Massachusetts
concertgoers as an accomplished pianist, accompanist,
composer, arranger, and musical director. His versatility
and knowledge of many musical styles has brought him
together with a wide range of popular and classical
artists through the years, among them Mitzi Gaynor,
Liberace, Al Martino, Anna Moffo, Samuel Baron and
Garrison Keillor.
A native of Holyoke, MA, Mr. Gionfriddo started piano
studies at the age of four, began performing at six,
and directed his first musical project at twelve. He
has since directed numerous area community, high school
and prep school productions [Beehive and Some Enchanted
Evening, Stage West/CityStage; Sweeney Todd, Williston
Theatre; and Cabaret and Jacques Brel Is Alive And
Well, MHC Theatre Arts are recent examples.] His adventures
while assistant conductor on board Cunard's MS Royal
Viking Sun brought him around the world to 30 countries.
Mr. Gionfriddo received his Bachelor's Degree in Piano
from Skidmore College and Masters Degree in Accompanying
from UMASS/Amherst. He has been based at Mount Holyoke
College since 1986 where he is a Senior Instructor
in Jazz Piano, Director and Founder of the Mount Holyoke
College Jazz Ensemble, and Music Department Staff Accompanist.
His classical and jazz arrangements, both vocal and
instrumental, have been premiered in Boston, New York
City, New Orleans, Nashville and Washington DC by the
Mount Holyoke Glee Club, the Hampshire College Chorus,
and the Hampshire Choral Society of Northampton MA.
His two-piano arrangements of the orchestral suites
from Bizet’s Carmen were featured on National
Public Radio's "Performance Today".
In October of 2006, Mr. Gionfriddo conducted the MHC
Big Band during two episodes of the popular NPR quiz
show “Says You!” He also currently serves
as President of Save the Victory Theatre, Inc., a non-profit
organization that is helping to guide the restoration
plan of the Victory Theatre, a historic vaudeville
and movie house in downtown Holyoke.
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