A native of Brooklyn, New York, Anthony Gatto has developed a diverse body of works often adapting literary and visual art for opera, film, theater, dance, and concert music. Two of his operas, Wise Blood, after the novel by Flannery O’Connor, and The Making of Americans, after the novel by Gertrude Stein, were commissioned by the Walker Art Center and performed to sold out shows. Anthony studied music with Ornette Coleman, later founding The Festival Dancing in Your Head celebrating his ideas and influences. The festival commissioned and presented hundreds of international artists and culminated in celebrating Ornette’s 75th Birthday. 

After completing a doctorate at the Yale School of Music, Anthony’s work has been performed widely in the U.S., Europe, South America, and Singapore. Collaborators include the JACK Quartet, Ethel, New Thread Saxophone Quartet, Alarm Will Sound, Minneapolis Guitar Quartet, Minnesota Orchestra, Duo Montagnard, Rebecca Pappas Dancers, and Open Eye Figure Theater. He has been the recipient of awards and fellowships from the Fulbright Scholar Program (Berlin, Germany), New York Foundation for the Arts, the Bush Foundation, McKnight Foundation, Jerome Foundation, Meet the Composer, Inc, an ASCAP Grant to Young Composers, as well as residencies at Yaddo, Millay Colony, Copland House, VCCA, and the Willapa Bay AiR.

Website:

www.gattomusic.com

Education:

Bachelor of Arts, Grinnell College

Master of Music, University of Texas at Austin

Master of Musical Arts, Doctor of Musical Arts, Yale University