Anthony Giamanco Biography
Anthony Giamanco was born September 22, 1958 in Detroit, Michigan. He began musical studies at the age of 8, and a few years later, took his first forays into music composition. In 1968, his family moved to Taylor. With the advent of his professional career at the age of 17, Anthony was appointed organist/choir director at Community United Methodist Church in Romulus, and, almost simultaneously was hired by St. Alfred Catholic Parish as organist, with his dad as cantor. He has since served as music director at Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Catholic churches throughout the state of Michigan. Although he had brief keyboard training early on with Ronny Phillips (Aneiros), serious study of the piano was postponed until he entered college. At Eastern Michigan University he minored in piano under Dady Mehta. As an elective, he began formal training on the organ with Mary Ida Yost and later, Michelle Johns. Although composition was his first love, he decided to become a voice major, the study of which introduced him to the joys of German lieder, particularly the masterpieces of Schubert. Composing, however, was not to take a back seat for long. At Eastern Michigan University, in a small group setting, under the tutelage of Anthony Iannaccone, his compositional style began to blossom. As an adolescent, he taught himself how to form chords on the piano, and before long, he was writing short melodies, first with simple harmonies, then increasingly more adventurous, eventually applying his ever-growing knowledge to a variety of musical forms. Self-motivation in developing his ear at this early stage would prepare Anthony well for the more intense musical studies offered at the university level. Certainly analyzing Bach chorales, studying counterpoint, and immersing himself in recordings of masterworks from the Renaissance to the 20th century had an immeasurable influence on his writing. After three years of college, Anthony settled in Ypsilanti near Eastern Michigan University. Piano, organ, voice and composition studies continued privately with Marilyn Eller and James Wagner. Marilyn and her husband, the composer and pianist Daniel Eller, performed Stravinsky's Les Noces in New York with the composer conducting. Dan's teachers and early influences include Elliot Carter, Beveridge Webster and Wallingford Riegger. Around 1984, Anthony returned to Taylor, and for the next several years, served as a part-time church music director as well as director of the Taylor Community Chorus. Shortly thereafter, he was hired by the Detroit Public Schools as a full-time piano accompanist. During this time his musical tastes became more eclectic, embracing jazz, pop, gospel and folk styles which increasingly informed his writing. In 1996, his first composition, “Rise Up Shepherd, and Follow” (SATB a cappella), was published. Other choral works followed: “Good News! He’s Alive!” (SAB, piano); “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” (TTBB, a cappella); “Take Up Your Cross” (2-part mixed, piano); “We Must Believe” (3-part mixed, piano); “Love Comes Trick-a-lin’ Down” (2-part treble, piano); and “The Cherry Tree Carol” (2-part, piano)—to name a few. Anthony’s first published organ work, “Kum Ba Yah” (Wayne Leupold Editions), was featured around that time in an early issue of The Organist’s Companion. Since then WLE has published many of his organ works, with more titles being readied for future issues. Other organ as well as piano and handbell titles are also featured in the bi-monthly magazines published by Lorenz. Anthony’s first full-time position as music director came in early 2000 when he was hired by Shalom Lutheran Church in Pinckney, where he developed a vibrant music ministry, which included adult and children’s choirs, a handbell choir, a brass ensemble, and a contemporary band. He also had opportunities to compose and arrange music for all the ensembles, and dedicated his brass quintet piece, “Celebration March” to Shalom's resident ensemble, Celebration Brass. During this time, Anthony joined the Livingston County Chorale under the direction of Dr. Marilyn Jones, initially as a member of the tenor section, then as assistant director. A number of his choral pieces were performed by the chorale throughout his three-year tenure. Although he continued composing organ music, his desire to write for the piano grew, and he began creating supplementary pieces for his students, as well as composing hymn settings and original sacred pieces for piano, many of which have since been published by Lorenz. Recently, music for handbells, brass and woodwind ensembles, and string quartet have become more prominent in his writing. His music is now published widely. In 2005, Anthony left Shalom to accept the full-time music director position at St. Mary Catholic Parish, also in Pinckney, just a mile down the road from Shalom. As at Shalom, Anthony was given the task of re-booting St. Mary’s music ministry, either invigorating or creating ensembles that include adult, youth and children’s choirs; a handchime choir, and two contemporary ensembles. In the summer of 2017, he returned to Shalom where he continues to serve as Director of Creative Arts and Worship. At various times, Anthony has been a member of the AGO, ACDA, and NAPM, among other organizations. He is currently a writer member of ASCAP. Other musical accomplishments include:
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This choral anthem is scored for 2-part voices and piano. It can be sung by women's chorus, men's chorus, mixed chorus, and children's chorus. In its first year of publication it was one of the highest selling anthems published by GIA.