Biography
A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Daniel Ficarri is a rising organist and composer, currently studying at The Juilliard School with Paul Jacobs. Ficarri is quickly making his mark as a versatile soloist and ensemble musician in New York City--his recent performance of John Cage’s Souvenir for organ was listed under the “Week’s 8 Best Classical Music Moments” in The New York Times. In addition, Ficarri appeared as part of the WQXR Bach Organ Marathon, and he has performed in recital at some of New York City’s most impressive spaces—The Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, The Church of St. Paul the Apostle, and on the world-famous pipe organ of The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. Other performances have taken him outside of the solo organ world, from appearances in Lincoln Square’s Winter’s Eve Festival and Juilliard’s ChamberFest to concerts with the Chelsea Opera, The Florida Orchestra, the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, and the Juilliard Orchestra in Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. This season, Ficarri’s schedule includes performances at the University of Scranton, Wingate University, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, and the Hall of Philosophy in Mt. Gretna, PA.
An avid composer, Ficarri has seen his music performed across the country. His Suite No. 1 for Organ was premiered by organist David Ball this year and featured on WQED, Pittsburgh’s classical music radio station. In addition, Ficarri’s May the Lord Bless You and Keep You for choir, violin, and organ received several performances in New York City last spring. Many of his compositions and arrangements have arisen in service of musical collaboration—these include his original organ and piano duet arrangements of music by Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich, and Guilmant, prepared for performance with pianist Anna Han, and Ficarri’s Sonata for Piano and Oboe, written for Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra principal oboe player Cynthia DeAlmeida, and premiered with her in 2012. Ficarri continues to write music for concerts, church services, and special events, and his works are available for purchase through Sheet Music Plus.
As a church musician in the New York City area, Ficarri formerly served as Organ Scholar at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church, under the direction of Dr. John T. King. Currently, Ficarri works as Organ Scholar at The Church of St. Paul the Apostle in Manhattan. In 2015, he founded Sacred Sounds at St. Paul’s, a concert series promoting organ music in the Lincoln Center neighborhood and providing performance opportunities to young artists; he also spearheaded the organ restoration project underway at St. Paul’s.
