Holiday Pops
January 16, 2010

Robert Bonfiglio, harmonica

Called "the Paganini of the Harmonica" by The Los Angeles Times, Robert Bonfiglio has dazzled audiences throughout the world with his ability to play harmonica concertos and turn right around and “sizzle” on the blues. The reviewer of his Gewandhaus debut wrote, "Bonfiglio makes music: full of fire; noble."

Mr. Bonfiglio has recently debuted with the Pittsburgh Symphony, the National Symphony at Kennedy Center; the Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec; and the Louisville Orchestra. He has appeared as a soloist with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall; John Williams and the Boston Pops on PBS; John Mauceri and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra; Fabio Luisi and the Mitteldeutchen Rundfunks (MDR) Orchestra at the Leipzig Gewandhaus; and Theo Alcantara and the Buenos Aires Philharmonic at the Teatro Colón.

Mr. Bonfiglio has been a concerto soloist with leading orchestras across the U.S. including the Minnesota Orchestra; Milwaukee Symphony; the Indianapolis Symphony, Oregon Symphony; Utah Symphony; and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Abroad he has performed with Orchestre de la Suisse Romande; the Orchestra of the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires; the Luxembourg Philharmonic; the Leipzig (MDR) -Radio Symphony Orchestra; the Hong Kong Philharmonic; Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse; the Madrid Radio Television Española Orchestra; Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla; the Estonia National Symphony; Edmonton Symphony; and the Mexico City Philharmonic.

Mr. Bonfiglio received his Master’s degree in composition from Manhattan School of Music. He studied harmonica with Cham-ber Huang and was coached for 12 years by Andrew Lolya, the first flute of the New York City Ballet, during which time he studied the major works for harmonica and orchestra. Mr. Bonfiglio studied composition with Charles Wuorinen and Aaron Copland.