The Massapequa Library will hold a performance by Italian-American vocal tenor Salvatore Chiarelli on May 15. The segment “From Italy with Love,” will feature Chiarelli signing a combination of opera, Neapolitan, and musical theatre pieces.
Chiarelli was vocally trained in both New York and Italy. One of his most notable accomplishments includes participating in a five-week concert tour in Europe. Since then, he has managed to charm crowds with his vocal fervor while performing at venues all over the world. Growing up in Seaford, Chiarelli was inspired by his family’s enthusiasm for music.
“My family has a musical background. My father and grandfather were both singers. My dad sang professionally for a while,” said Chiarelli. “My sister played classical piano and my brother was a percussionist.”
It was that enthusiasm that led him to his passion of singing and performing around the world. Chiarelli has performed at numerous venues including concert halls, theatres, stadiums, parks, schools and country clubs.
“I’ve always had a musical aptitude. We moved from Brooklyn when I was 11 to Seaford and I loved performing in front of people,” said Chiarelli. “Right away I picked up a guitar and within a years time I was playing in a band for two hours.”
Chiarelli, who is an alumnus for both Farmingdale State College and Hofstra University, obtained a bachelors degree in accounting before making his final decision to pursue music.
“I wanted to further my education too. I was an accountant for a while but it wasn’t until I was in my early 40s that I decided to change career
s and live in Manhattan,” said Chiarelli. “I went back to school at Hunter College and I got a Masters of the Arts in music.”
Chiarelli says he was quite fortunate to be considered for a college program in music with an unrelated bachelors degree.
“Before I went there, I took a two-year music degree at Nassau Community College, but I barely could read music at that time,” said Chiarelli. “I became disciplined and wanted to study classical music. I almost completed the degree and it was enough to get into the master’s program at Hunter.”
Chiarelli has been able to master many vocal techniques as a performer and can perform his songs in both English and Italian.
“I’ve been training on and off. I’m always conscious of what I learn. I’ve been training classically for about 20 years now,” said Chiarelli. “It takes a long time to come together. I sing in a full-bodied operatic style. It was difficult because I have a wide range in my voice.”
Anyone looking to hear Chiarelli’s music can obtain a copy of his debut album, “Due Terre, Un Cuore” or head to his website www.salvatore chiarelli.com to check out his event listings.
