Biography

Luis Felipe Vieira Damiani began learning the violin at the age of five by the Suzuki Method. At ten he both entered Porto Alegre Symphony’s Music School, where he was able to further his studies in music theory, and began having private violin lessons with Dr. Fredi Gerling, professor of violin at Rio Grande do Sul’s Federal University. Four years later he began taking guitar and harmony private lessons and shortly thereafter composition and counterpoint private instruction as well. Around this time he also played at the Federal University’s Juvenile Orchestra and began using computers for composing music, subject he furthered through elective courses during college.

From 1996 to 2005 he studied violin with Prof. Marcello Guerchfeld, a former student of Galamian. As his student, he earned in 2002 a Bachelor of Music degree from Rio Grande do Sul’s Federal University. One year later Luis entered Porto Alegre Symphony, with which he performed as soloist in the 2005 season. In 2004 he was appointed Assistant Concertmaster of the Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul’s Philharmonic Orchestra and in 2009 he moved to Belo Horizonte, where he remained until mid-2011 as a member of Minas Gerais Philharmonic, one of the top Brazilian groups of its kind.

In Brazil he attended music festivals in Curitiba and São João del Rey, as well as the Aspen Music Festival in the United States. In Italy, he studied with Boris Belkin and Giuliano Carmignola at the Accademia Chigiana. Other teachers include Jennifer John, Jaime Weisenblum, Leonard Felberg, Earl Carlyss, Eric Rosenblith and Kurt Sassmannshaus, with whom he took classes for a semester at University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music.

From 2003 Luis has composed jingles and soundtracks for advertising agencies in Porto Alegre and in 2008 he wrote the original music for the motion picture O Guri. For television, his commissioned works include the soundtrack for the short film O Sabiá, aired in 2010. In the same year he received an award from the National Foundation of Arts for his Solo Violin Suite.

Damiani has always taken interest in contemporary music, often premiering works by fellow composers in Brazil (Felipe Adami, Dimitri Cervo and Martin Heuser) and more recently in the USA (Aaron Lepley, Aaron Hutcheson and Geoff Sheil, among many others). His efforts also contemplated the research, engraving and premiere of works by 20th Century Southern Brazilian composers Bruno Kiefer and Armando Albuquerque, as well as the recording in 2006 of the Duo for Violin and Cello (2000) by Manhattan School of Music educated Brazilian composer Pablo Castellar, a recording that won the Açorianos Prize by the Municipal Office of Culture of Porto Alegre in 2008.

Receiving in 2010 the prestigious Classical Composition Award from the National Foundation of Arts in Brazil made composer and violinist Luis Felipe Vieira Damiani take a turn from a well-established orchestral career into pursuing graduate studies in the USA. Damiani’s awards since include Best Feature Soundtrack at the 6th Cinefantasy International Fantastic Film Festival in 2011 and the University of South Florida’s 2012 Percussion Composition Prize, among numerous academic awards. In 2013 Damiani received under the orientation of Dr. Baljinder Sekhon a Master of Music degree in music composition from the University of South Florida. In the same year Damiani was awarded a fellowship to pursue Ph.D. studies in music composition at the University of Florida, where he currently works as a graduate teaching assistant, under the orientation of Dr. James Paul Sain.

News & Events

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A Rare Form of Kleptomania

Feb 21, 2015

Jorge Variego is an Argentinian composer and a fellow gator who wrote the piece A Rare Form of Kleptomania for violin and electronics, which I will be performing, with himself on the laptop, on February 21st. The performance is part of 2015 edition of the Florida Contemporary Music Festival, and put together by Nuclear Music, a student-run chamber ensemble and organization. The performance will take place in MUB 101 at 3 p.m. In Jorge's own words,

The work is a derivative composition from pieces by other composers. It is a homage that celebrates many preexisting compositions without fixing to any of them. An idea formed by many other ideas with only one unique element, this very performance.

Recital with Brian Hargrove

Dec 1, 2014

I am proud to announce my recital with pianist Brian Hargrove on December 1st 2014 at 5 P.M. It will take place in MUB 101 at the University of Florida. This recital is a preview of another I will give in early February, that will include pieces for violin and piano by myself, Michael Polo, James Sain, Paul Richards, and Baljinder Sekhon.

Graduation Ceremony

May 4, 2013

On May 4th 2013 I attended my Master of Music in Composition graduation ceremony at USF. It was such a happy moment, I look great in pink, Judy Genshaft is a sweetheart, and I guess you can call me Prof. Damiani from now on!

Nina Young's Sun Propeller

Apr 6, 2013

On April 6th 2013 at 7:30 pm I will give a performance of Sun Propeller, a remarkable piece for solo violin and electronics by the talented composer Nina C. Young. The piece is written in scordatura, going all the way down to a low D on the G-string, creating a most impressive effect. The performance will take place in Barness Hall at the University of South Florida as part of the USF's New Music Consortium Spring Concert.

Bob Morris

Oct 27, 2012

On October 27th 2012 I met in Orlando with my guru Bob Morris, just to find out that I was actually running for commissioner! This picture was taken a block away from where we met.

Fellow Gaucho Composer Francis Schwartz

Oct 16, 2012

On October 16th 2012 I had the pleasure of meeting fellow Gaucho composer Francis Schwartz, who like me now lives in Florida. He came to USF for a composition masterclass and recital. Schwartz's work is absolutely extraordinary, and his adventures around the world just fascinating. He even stayed in Porto Alegre, the city where I grew up, for a whole month during a series of performances of his works by the Porto Alegre Symphony, upon which occasion he was awarded by the governor the title of honorary Gaucho! This photo was taken by Stephanie Brauer, a wonderful photographer who accompanied Schwartz and shows from left to right Prof. Paul Reller, Francis Schwartz and myself.

Première of Geoff Sheil's Animate

Apr 7, 2012

On April 7th 2012 I had the honor of premiering Animate, Geoff Sheil's piece for violin and ensemble. It was truly a memorable experience working with all the people involved. The performance took place in the Barness Hall at the University of South Florida.

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Phi Kappa Phi Induction Ceremony

Apr 1, 2012

Phi Kappa Phi is an honors society that recognizes academic achievements. I was invited to become a member after my first semester as a graduate student here at USF, and on April 1st 2012 I attended my induction ceremony. I have to say, the food afterward was unbelievable!

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