About Us
A message from founder and Artistic Director,
Carmine Aufiero
Terpsikord was formed in January 2022, in response to our now annual wave of COVID infections after the holidays. Living the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, with all of us in the performing arts losing our main sources of income for over a year made it clear that in order for us to survive in this new world, we would have to become better at providing opportunities for ourselves more so than ever before. Our country adopted a policy that the fine arts were the least essential of all services, and we were the first to close down-and also the last industry to go back online after the 2020 lockdowns. My colleague and dear friend Garry Ianco and I have shared a professional and personal friendship for over a decade, since meeting at the Chelsea Opera. As ambassadors for the arts, we have always wanted to form our own organization with a mission of creating a versatile and diverse ensemble comprised of the top freelance musicians in New York City.
Our mission on stage is to deliver dynamic, exciting concerts with a wide range of repertoire ranging from Baroque to Broadway-and everything in between. There is a certain fellowship that develops between professional musicians who freelance and have played together for many years, in many different contexts. We discovered through this project, that this ability to collaborate in any environment amongst freelance colleagues is an incredible energy to harness with intention as a well rehearsed ensemble, and our goal is to share that experience with as many of you as possible.
Beyond the stage, we are developing educational opportunities for young professionals including a partnership with Empower Voices Now, we have a concertmaster masterclass series with top players from both the Broadway and symphonic worlds, and will have a free outdoor concert this summer for the community at large who want to see our work, but may be unable to attend our more expensive fundraising events.
We are so excited to share our art and our passion with you, and we hope you will join us in making Terpsikord a household name in the New York arts community.
Ciao,
-Carmine
Co-Founder & Music Director: Carmine Aufiero
Currently you can find Maestro Aufiero conducting Rossini's il barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Idaho. He recently conducted Verdi's La Traviata and again il barbiere di Siviglia with New York City Opera.
Mr. Aufiero made his New York conducting debuting 2007 with Chelsea Opera's production of Suor Angelica, and has since led performances of Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci, William Walton's The Bear, and Lee Hoiby's The Scarf, as well as Gianni Schicchi, Glory Denied, Madama Butterfly, and The Ballad of Baby Doe.
Carmine was engaged as pianist and assistant conductor for the American Symphony Orchestra's production of Janacek's Osud under Leon Botstein after completing his studies in orchestral conducting with conducting legend Harold Farberman, and at Bard also studied composition, theory, and improvisation with Robert Abramson.From 2005-2008 Mr. Aufiero served as coach and conductor for Martina Arroyo’s 'Prelude to Performance'
An active vocal coach and accompanist, Maestro Aufiero has been pianist and studio coach to renowned vocal pedagogue and Metropolitan Opera soprano Diana Soviero, collaborating on master classes for vocal technique, style and repertoire study.
Beginning with 2014's production of Adamo's Little Women, Mr. Aufiero began his association with Opera on the James as principal guest conductor. He returned in the fall of 2014 to conduct La Bohème, again in 2015 for a production of Lucia di Lammermoor, collaborating with Metropolitan Opera artists Alyson Cambridge and Amy Shoremount-Obra.
Co-Founder & Concert Master: Garry Ianco
As a soloist, Garry Ianco has appeared with Bachanalia Chamber Orchestra, The Montclair Chamber Ensemble,The Orchestra of the Bronx,The New Jersey Philharmonic, and The Monmouth Symphony amongst others. Of his performance of Saint-Saens’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso with the Monmouth Symphony, Carlton Wilkenson of the Asbury Park Press said ”...his tone was like a shining sword”.
An active chamber musician and solo recitalist, Garry has appeared at the Capital City Concerts in VT, the Red Bank Chamber Music Society in NJ, and the Summerland Music Society at Glens Falls in NY, and at Fontainebleau Palace in France among others. Mr. Ianco has collaborated with many renowned artists such as Richard Wolfe, Alexander Markov, Frederick Zlotkin, and Nina Beilina.
Currently, Garry Ianco is performing as the concertmaster for Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Phantom of the Opera, on tour in North America. Mr. Ianco has performed in the Broadway productions of Phantom of the Opera and Evita, and the Off-Broadway productions of Far From Heaven and Giant. An experienced concertmaster also in the symphonic world, Mr. Ianco has led the Chelsea Opera, Verismo Opera, Orchestra of St. Peter by-the-Sea, the Marcello Giordani Gala Orchestra, New Jersey Philharmonic, and the orchestra for the Irish Tenors amongst others.
Garry has also performed as the assistant concertmaster of The Santo Domingo Music Festival Orchestra, and as a section violinist with The Orchestra of Northern New York, the Münchner Symphoniker, and The Strathmere Festival Orchestra.
A passionate educator, Mr. Ianco was an Adjunct Professor of Music at New Jersey City University, and has held faculty positions at the Monmouth Conservatory of Music and the Judith Wharton School.