Thomas Peter Muraco

Thomas Muraco, renowned pianist, conductor and teacher, Dies at 74

Thomas Muraco "is simply one of the finest collaborative artists before the public today; his contributions were models of complete support and specific understanding-they were songs without words!" (Richard Dyer, Boston Globe) Maestro Muraco earned such accolades through a combination of technical virtuosity, tonal beauty, and a unique understanding of the underlying poetry of music.

Sadly, he passed away February 3 after a brief illness at Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC.

Maestro Muraco's career as a conductor began as an assistant to some of the best conductors of the 20th century including Leonard Bernstein, John Nelson and James Conlon. He led performances by companies in North America and Europe including Goldmark's Merlin and Verdi's Nabucco at Theater Bremen (where he was also the Studienleiter-Kapellmeister), Idomeneo at Opera McGill in Montreal, La Cenerentola at Opera San Jose, Lakme with IVAI in Tel Aviv and Tri-Cities Opera to name a few.

Mr. Muraco has partnered with numerous distinguished musicians including Adele Addison, Martina Arroyo, Arlene Auger, Kathleen Battle, John Cheek, Phyllis Curtin, Roberta Peters, Benita Valente and Dolora Zajick. He performed on recital tours with tenor Ben Heppner at LaScala, Dortmund Konzerhaus, Opera National de Paris, Berlin Philharmonie and Barbicon Centre in London. Highlights of his career include appearances at the White House, the Library of Congress and festivals throughout the US, Europe and Asia.

As a faculty member of the Manhattan School of Music since 1993, Mr. Muraco trained pianists in the art of accompanying and coaching, as well as singers in all aspects of the art. He has taught masterclasses for pianists and singers emphasizing the relationship and music in all aspects of the vocal repertoire, bringing to bear his extensive knowledge of languages-French, Italian, German and Portuguese among others. For many years he was also on the faculty of Dolores Zajick's Institute for Young Dramatic Voices in Reno, Nevada.

His extraordinary life and music lives on with his recordings on the Serenus, CRI and Musical Heritage labels.

He leaves behind his beloved partner Thomas Schypior of Diepholz Germany, his sister and brother-in-law Lorraine and Daniel Gagnon of Coventry Rhode Island, nephews Daniel Sieracki and his wife Kathleen of Coventry Rhode Island and Joseph Sieracki and his wife Kelly of Fall River Mass.,his great niece Amelia and grand nephews Ashton, Lincoln and Logan and countless friends from around the world.

A memorial will be held at the Manhattan School of Music at a later date.

Donations in Maestro Muraco's name can be made to: The Institute for Young Dramatic Voices

270 Hillcrest Drive

Reno, Nevada 89509