Michael Maganuco

Michael Maganuco currently performs as principal harpist of Dubuque Symphony, Evanston Symphony, and Lakeview Orchestra. He has previously performed with Civic Orchestra of Chicago, New World Symphony, New England Philharmonic, and at summer music festivals including Tanglewood Music Center, Chautauqua Institute, and Eastern Music Festival. He is committed to the performance of contemporary music and has premiered works by composers Elliott Carter, Gunther Schuller, Theodore Antoniou, Peter Child, Malcolm Peyton, and many others. He has appeared as soloist in performances of Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp, William Grant Still’s Ennanga, and Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro. As a Baroque triple harpist, Mr. Maganuco has played in historical performances of Handel’s Concerto for Harp and Monteverdi’s operas, L’orfeo and L’incoronazione di Poppea.

Mr. Maganuco is also a published composer and arranger. His original solo harp composition, Awakening Stillnesses, was awarded the grand prize in the Composition Contest for the 8th USA International Harp Competition. In 2012, his piece was recorded by French harpist, Agnès Clément, on her debut solo album, Dance. Mr. Maganuco has arranged extensively for the harp, as well; commissioned by Ann Hobson Pilot, principal harpist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, he arranged a collection of Astor Piazzolla’s music for violin and harp, which Pilot recorded with BSO violinist, Lucia Lin, for an all-Piazzolla album, Escualo, released in 2015 by Harmonia Mundi. Mr. Maganuco graduated summa cum laude from Boston University with Bachelor’s degrees in harp performance and composition, and earned his Master’s degree in harp performance from Northwestern University.