Moira Lo Bianco

The gift of a toy piano for her fifth birthday was where the music started for the Italian-born, New York City-based musician Moira Lo Bianco. After that, it wasn’t long before Moira found her first loves: the keyboard music of Bach and Bartok. From each composer she took traits - counterpoint and balance from Bach, dissonance and harshness from Bartok - that have influenced her music ever since.

Moira enrolled in Calabria’s F. Torrefranca Conservatory at the age of 9, beginning a decade-long educational journey that not only nurtured her classical talents but – in the tradition of so many piano greats – also instilled a love of folk music. After earning her degree in Classical Performance, Moira pursued graduate studies at TheUniversity of Tor Vergata, where she completed a thesis in Ethnomusicology, and went on to study film scoring under Oscar-winning composer Luis Bacalov at Siena's Accademia Chigiana.

Post-graduation, Moira launched a career that continues to bring classical music to unexpected venues through unique collaborations. Her repertoire – built over years of playing the old and the new, jazz, classical, contemporary, and her own improvisations – helped her move fluidly among Italy’s jazz old guard and players at the forefront of contemporary music. Moira has played throughout Italy in both the classical and jazz spheres, including at Rome’s prestigiuos Villa Celimontana Festival alongside trombonist Marcello Rosa and Santa Cecilia Orchestra percussionist Vittorino Naso.

In 2011, Moira won a scholarship to study in the U.S. at Berklee College of Music - the place where her past and future influences came together. She graduated with top honors in 2012 and earned a coveted opportunity to orchestrate her own arrangement of Mulatu Astatke’s “Derashe” at Berklee’s 2012 commencement concert, which she conducted alongside Astatke, himself. She also was selected to perform in the Berklee Piano Department Concert, where she received two recognitions: the Classical Contemporary Performance Award from the Piano Department, and the Achievement Award from the Professional Music Department.

In Boston, Moira explored the diverse musical traditions of the Middle East, India, and Flamenco, and continues to experiment through collaboration with dancers, poets, and artists. Her recent concerts include performances at the Newport Jazz Festival opening gala, Boston’s Regattabar Patio, Ryles Jazz Club, the Goethe-Institut Boston, and the Boston French Cultural Center. As an arranger, Moira has collaborated with saxophonist Marco Pignataro, managing director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, and oud and violin virtuoso Simon Shaheen.

In 2012 Moira launched the workshop series “Improvisation for Classical Pianists” in partnership with Boston’s premier Steinway dealer, M. Steinert & Sons; she is now expanding the workshop with Berklee College of Music. She is a proud supporter of Massachusetts Citizens for Children, and uses her platform to raise awareness about the "Enough Abuse Campaign" for the prevention of child sexual abuse.

Moira released her debut full-length album Lunaria with the Moira Lo Bianco Trio in August 2013.Produced by pianist Alain Mallet, Lunaria features Bruno Råberg on double bass and Marcello Pellitteri on drums.

Moira was recently nominated as 2013 Jazz Artist of the Year by the Boston Music Awards.