Born in Palermo, Italy, Salvatore Di Vittorio studied composition with Ludmila Ulehla and (conducting with) Giampaolo Bracali at the Manhattan School of Music, and aesthetics (and ancient) philosophy at Columbia University in New York. He then continued conducting studies in Rome with Francesco Carotenuto (Conservatory of Music “S. Cecilia”), in Florence with Piero Bellugi (Conservatory of Music “L. Cherubini”), and in London with John Farrer (Royal College of Music).

Of his American symphonic debut with the Danbury Symphony (20 March 2005), James Pegolotti of the Danbury Times wrote: “Di Vittorio’s leadership evidenced a natural and significant talent!”

Salvatore Di Vittorio has attracted considerable attention as Music Director and Founder of the Chamber Orchestra of New York “Ottorino Respighi”. Its triumphant debut was held on 11 October 2007 at Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall. Following the inaugural season finale, Vivien Schweitzer of The New York Times wrote: "The musicians played…producing a polished, rich sound…a stirring performance [of Mahler’s Adagietto and]…a voluptuous rendition of Tchaikovsky's Souvenir…."

Praised by renowned Italian conductor Piero Bellugi for his elegance on the podium, other European conductors have hailed Di Vittorio a “serious, lyrical, and romantic composer…following in the footsteps of Respighi…and worthy of serious consideration.”

Maestro Di Vittorio has recently completed Overtura Respighiana and Respighi’s Concerto per Violino (unfinished, first violin concerto) by invitation of Respighi’s heirs and archive director. He has also transcribed/revised Respighi’s Aria per archi and Suite per archi for publication. All of these works were premiered and recorded for Naxos alongside Di Vittorio’s Sinfonia No. 2 during the Chamber Orchestra’s third season “…a real fusion between the music of Respighi and our maestro” – Potito Pedarra, Respighi archive curator

Di Vittorio’s music is inspired by philosophical-programmatic themes and captivates each listener with poignant lyricism and magnificent orchestrations. His compositions have been premiered by such orchestras as Orvieto Musica Festival Orchestra, Accademia Musicale Siciliana, Teatro Massimo Opera (Palermo), Orchestra Filarmonica Franco Ferrara, Carnevale di Venezia Musica, Brussels Chamber Ensemble, Festival Sinfonietta Umbria di Perugia, El Hanager String Orchestra of Cairo, Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina, Chamber Ensemble of Rome, San Jose Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra of New York

Reviews about the Maestro have been written in The New York Times, Strings Magazine, America Oggi, New Music Connoisseur of New York, Danbury News Times of Connecticut, La Repubblica of Rome, Il Mediterraneo and Giornale di Sicilia of Palermo, La Nazione of Florence, Arts San Francisco Observer and Classical Voice, including highlights on RAI TV and UN French International Radio

Salvatore serves as Resident Conductor of the Adelphi Symphony Orchestra at Adelphi University. Former positions include Accademia Musicale Siciliana (Palermo), Chamber Ensemble of Rome and Florence Symphonietta. He has conducted the Vancouver Island Symphony, State Symphony Orchestra of Sofia (Bulgaria), Danbury Symphony, Royal College of Music Symphony (London), and Festival Sinfonietta Umbra di Perugia. Salvatore Di Vittorio is a member of the Manhattan School of Music Alumni Board Council. His music is published by Edizioni Panastudio in Italy. Recordings of his music are available on the Naxos and Panastudio Labels

Contact Eileen to learn more about projects and new releases of Salvatori's works