Raphael Fusco

Raphael Fusco is an Italian-American composer, keyboardist, and conductor praised by the international press as “a lively player and fine improviser” (Los Angeles Times), “one of the most outstanding composers of his generation” (El Mundo), and “a leader in the opera world today” (Operawire).

Fusco’s music stirs emotions through the dynamic blending of language and sound, merging historical traditions with contemporary innovation to create immersive experiences for performers and audiences alike. His compositions span a wide range of genres—from opera and theater to orchestral works, art song, chamber music, and music for historical instruments. He has received commissions from the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Cecilia Chorus of New York, Opera Lucca, Phoenix Boys Choir, and members of the New York Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera Orchestras. His works have been premiered at venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, Casa Milà in Barcelona, the Oriental Theater in Shanghai, Teatro Titano in San Marino, and Église Saint-Séverin in Paris.

Fusco has earned awards from the NATS Art Song Composition Award, the American Prize, the Ruzickova Composition Competition, Notre Dame University, the Fyfe Choral Composition Award, and the Aliénor International Harpsichord Competition. His music is published by Universal Edition Vienna, Verlag Ries & Erler, Prima la Musica, Hinshaw Music, Opus Imprints, and Alfred Music.

As a pianist and harpsichordist, Fusco has performed with the New York Philharmonic, American Ballet Theatre, and toured with GRAMMY Award–winning saxophonist Branford Marsalis. A dedicated educator, he has given masterclasses and lectures at the Sorbonne, Manhattan School of Music, Boston University, Escuela Superior de Canto in Madrid, Strasbourg Conservatoire, and Opera Lucca, where he is the founder and artistic director of the Composer Institute. He has also served as conductor and vocal coach at Classic Lyric Arts since 2017.

A native of New Jersey, Fusco studied at the Mannes College of Music, the Conservatorio G. Verdi in Turin, and the École Normale de Musique de Paris. He holds a doctorate from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria, where his research explored empathy and expressive agency in vocal composition.