Steven Nanni

Visiting Assistant Professor of Music

Tenor Steven Nanni, “a world class tenor who has natural musicality, artistic instinct and vocal talent, sang the role of Nemorino in Donizetti’s L’elisir D’amore beautifully” (Irish Times) … “A particularly strong performance … Nanni sang beautifully” (Boston Globe). “Among Steven’s many talents are his natural musical instincts. He is a singer from the old school of bel canto and expressive line; a complete musical instrument and artist” –Nico Castel (Metropolitan Opera diction coach, Juilliard School professor).

Steven’s engagements include over 25 leading roles in opera and oratorio such as Alfredo in Verdi’s La traviata; Tito in Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito; Count Almaviva in Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia; Ernesto in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, and Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflote. Oratorios include Bach’s Magnificat; Mass in B Minor, and St. Matthew Passion; Haydn’s Creation; Handel’s Messiah; Mozart’s Requiem; Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Orff’s Carmina Burana. Steven has also appeared in light opera, art song and lieder recitals with piano accompaniment and full orchestral format. Appearances at Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Performing Arts Center, Florida Philharmonic, La Lirica di Venezia, Opera Company of Dublin, Ireland, Liederkranz Hall (NYC), the Juilliard School, Delaware Valley Opera, Binghamton Philharmonic and Tri-Cities Opera.

Steven attended the Conservatorio di Musica “Giuseppe Verdi” di Milano Internazionale under the direction of Guido Salvetti. Steven also attended the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains, where he studied with Prima Donna Renata Scotto. Steven has also been a student and colleague of the celebrated diva Montserrat Caballe and under the baton of Placido Domingo at the Washington National Opera.

In mastering the vocal techniques of Marchesi, Lamperti and Garcia, Steven has adapted his own interpretation in translating these techniques to students of all voice types and vocal obstacles. As a singer and teacher of voice, Steven firmly believes that breathing skills, release of tension, the understanding of placement of voice, vocal exercises and scale work is mandatory in building the voice. To that end, good diction, language skills, translation and the ability to communicate should be first and foremost in a singer’s performance. Steven has studied and worked, for many years, with the master in diction, translation and style, Mr. Nico Castel, with whom Steven has coached a large part of the operatic and song literature.