MARCO DâAVOLA (1959) is a Sicilian composer, organist and pianist. He got his diplomas from the âVincenzo Belliniâ Music Conservatory in Palermo, with full marks and âsumma cum laudeâ. Then he has followed many stages of high school made by Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini, Arturo Sacchetti (the Vatican Radio), Odile Pierre, Oscar Mischiati, Bruno Canino, Jorg Demus, Paul Badura Skoda, Maria Regina Seidlhofer, Gjorgy Sandor.
As organist, he has given a lot of recitals in Europe, United States and Russia for the most important International Organ Festivals including: St. Patrickâs Cathedral, St. Thomas Church, Queens College, Westchester College, New York; National Cathedral, Washington; St. Patrickâs Cathedral, Philadelphia; Shostakovich Philharmonia, Saint Petersburg; Westminster Abbey, St. Paulâs Cathedral, St. Martin in the Fields, St. Margareth Lotbury, London; St. John Cathedral, Norwich; Leys College, Cambridge; St. Cutberth Cathedral, Edinburg; St. Germain lâAuxerrois, La Madeleine, Paris; Saint Benigne Cathedral, Dijon; Obernai Cathedral, Strasbourg; Cathedrale du Papes, Avignon; Grenoble; Cathedral, Montpellier; Notre Dame des Neiges, Alpe dâHuez; Kaiser-Wilhem Gedachtnische Kirche, Berlin; Dom Speyer; Christuskirche, St. Bonifaz Basilik, Munich; Nikolaikirche, Leipzig; St. Stephenâs Cathedral, Passau; Kreutzkirche, Dresden; Cathedral, Mainz; St. Bernard, Hamburg; Stiftsbasilika, Waldsassen; St. Markuskirche, Hannover; Friedenskirche, Potsdam; St. Anne, Aachen; Sancta Maria de Victoria, Ingolstadt; Cathedral, Altenberg; Marktkirche, Wiesbaden; Franziskanerkirche Festival, Pforzheim; St. Anna, Wien; Internationale Salzburger Orgelkonzerte, Salzburg; Cathedral, Klagenfurt; St. Mathias Templom, Budapest; Cathedral, Lausanne; Catholic St. Paul Cathedral, Zurich; The Papal Institute of Sacred Music, Festival San Marcello al Corso, Rome; San Miniato al Monte Abbey, Basilica dâOgnissanti, Palazzo Strozzi, Florence; Basilica deâ Frari, Venice; Historical Organ Festival, Bologna; Turin; Basilica Superiore di San Francesco, Assisi; Settimana di Musica Sacra di Monreale, San Martino delle Scale Abbey, Teatro Massimo, Palermo; Festival Limbourg-Maastricht; Luzern; Cathedral, Odense; Morella-Valencia; Igualada-Barcelona; Cathedral, Palma de Mallorca; Bruxelles; St. Peter and Paulâs Cathedral, Antwerpen; Oostende; Philharmonic Orchestra State Bielorussia, Minsk; Cathedral, Warsaw; Academy of Music, Krakow; Fylarmonia Opolska; Fylarmonia Olsztynia; Manoel Theatre, University, Malta; Festival of Contemporary Music, Bacau; Cathedral, Tunisi.
As a composer, he has written a considerable number of symphonic, choral and instrumental works including: the âMessa di Requiemâ, dedicated to the Pope John Paul II at the Vatican and performed by the Fylarmonia Opolska; five Concertos for organ and orchestra (the no. 1 op. 29 performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra State Bielorussia, Minsk; the no. 3 op. 38 performed by the Franziskanerkirche Orchestra (Mozarteum), Salzburg); two Concertos for piano and orchestra (the no. 1 op. 41 performed at the International Festival of Contemporary Music, Bacau; the no. 2 op. 43 performed by the National Aegyptian Philharmonic Orchestra, Cairo); the âTe Deumâ; the âStabat Materâ; âSinfonia degli Hyblaeiâ; three Organ Sonatas; Toccatas and Fugues; two Sacred Oratories (the no. 2 op. 49 performed at San Miniato al Monte Abbey, Florence); the âConcerto for cello and orchestra op. 36 (performed for the Teatro Massimo, Palermo).
Marco DâAvola is a Fellow of the âRoyal College of Organistsâ, London and of âFellowship of Rotarian Musiciansâ (U.S.A.). He his also: Titular Organist of St. John the Baptist Cathedral of Ragusa, Organ Professor at Modica Musical Academy and Artistic Director of the âCittĂ di Ragusaâ International Organ Festival; he his Honorary Inspector of the Region of Sicily for the safeguard of historical organs.
His musical compositions have been recorded and published by Pauline Editions (Vatican), I.M.S. (New York), T.G.E. (Switzerland), Berben, Eurarte (Italy), and broadcast by RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana, the Vatican Radio, the German, French, Spanish, Polish and Rumanian Televisions, the KCME Denver (U.S.A.).
Regarding his Concerto op. 29 for organ and orchestra, Prof. Jean Guillou has written: âI congratulate for this work: I enjoyed it through the thoroughness of your very consistent way of writing. The ideas are followed consequently and your musical thoughts are lyrical and always guided by the nobleness of the organ for which the orchestra seems to be a great shadow covering it with regard and respect, eloquence and gravityâ (March 2003).
Prof. Harald Genzmer, after hearing his 2nd Sonata for organ, said: âPedal solo phantastic! I never imagine my sonata could be so suggestiveâ (St. Bonifaz, Munich, August 1999).