Francesco Mastromatteo, cellist
Described as a “virtuosic and passionate musician” by the Dallas Morning News, Italian-born cellist Francesco Mastromatteo regularly performs throughout Italy and the USA. He currently acts as Artistic Director for both the Associazione Amici della Musica “G. Paisiello” in Lucera, Italy, and the non-profit organization Classical Music for the World in Austin, Texas. From 2008-13, he was the Artistic Director of the Spring of Harmony Concert Series held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Dallas. He is currently on faculty as Professor of Chamber Music at the Conservatory “U. Giordano” in Foggia, Italy – Residency of Rodi Garganico.
Dr. Mastromatteo has performed as soloist with the Meadows Symphony Orchestra in Dallas, Round Rock Symphony, Balcones Community Orchestra, Orchestra Sinfonica “Città di Pescara”, Orchestra Sinfonica della Provincia di Foggia, the orchestra “Suoni del Sud”, Meadows Wind Ensemble and Starlight Symphony. He also performed J.S. Bach’s solo suites in the US and in Italy at the prestigious Ravenna Festival (2009). He maintains a busy international schedule as chamber musician and is currently the cellist of the Duo Mastromatteo. He performs frequently in duo with pianists Christina Wright-Ivanova, Andrew Wright, Michael Schneider and Viviana Lasaracina. He has also collaborated with pianist Antonio Pompa-Baldi on a CD recording of Grieg’s Cello Sonata, which can be heard on Centaur Records. Recently, he has been invited to perform solo recitals and teach master classes at such institutions as Oklahoma City University, University of Nevada Las Vegas and Southern Methodist University, Keene State College.
As an advocate for both historically informed performance practice and contemporary music, Dr. Mastromatteo has performed with critically-acclaimed baroque ensembles such as Concerto Italiano and Camerata Anxanum. He has also performed several world premieres, including Thomas Sleeper’s Cello Sonata, as well as works for solo cello by composers such as Stefano Taglietti, Robert J. Franck, and Kevin Hanlon. He won the first prize in the National Cello Competition “G. Turci” in Ravenna, and first prize as a duo with pianist Tommaso Cogato in the International Competition “Città di Padova”. He also served as Principal Cellist of Orchestra Sinfonica Umberto Giordano of Foggia from 2003-04.
Dr. Mastromatteo completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Cello Performance at the University of Texas at Austin in 2012 under the mentorship of Bion Tsang. He holds a Master of Music degree and an Artist Certificate from Southern Methodist University, where he studied with Andrés Diaz. In Italy, he worked with teachers such as A. M. Mastromatteo, M. Shirvani and L. Piovano and R. Filippini.
Following a deep passion for all arts, he also holds a Master’s Degree with Honors in Literature and History of Arts from the Università “Aldo Moro” in Bari. Published written works include a volume on Italian composer Umberto Giordano for Bastogi Editrice, and an article on Kodàly Solo Sonata for Cello, op. 8 for the International Journal of Musicology.