Education
- MA, University of Toronto
Biography
Concert Accordionist Joseph Macerollo divides his musical life into three activities: performing, educating and organizing/fundraising. As an educator, he pioneered the acceptance of the accordion at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto and at Queens University in Kingston. He has lectured, given workshops, written articles and reviews of concerts and taught history of music, analysis, and the interpretation of contemporary music courses. As an administrator, he served on the board of directors of New Music Concerts, Pro Arte Orchestra and The Classical Accordion Society of Canada Inc., was founding director of the Mississauga Arts Council. He is founding member of the International Accordion Society headquartered in Finland. As an organizer the realization of an International Accordion Celebration March 26 - April 4, 1993 was a masterful integration of the classical accordion into the musical life of Toronto. Previous organizational accomplishments include LUMINA Project 1989, Soundscape Canada 1981, and the International Accordion Symposium 1975. In 1997, he produced R. Murray Schafer’s Princess of the Stars at Wildcat Lake, Haliburton. In 2001 and 2006 he produced R. Murray Schafer’s Palace of the Cinnabar Phoenix in the Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve and in 2002 and 2005 he produced R. Murray Schafer’s The Enchanted Forest. He is presently Development Officer of Off Centre Music Salon and on the board of directors of New Music Concerts. He has served on juries of the Toronto Arts Council. He has commissioned over 200 works by Canadian composers ranging in style from traditional to theatrical where as a performer he has gained respect for the instrument. Recently performed in 3 films called Live in Concert: Godfather I with Canadian Opera Company (2016), Lord of the Rings I with Toronto Symphony Orchestra (2016), Ratatouille with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (2017).
Doctoral students include Ina Henning of Germany (2011) and about to complete doctoral studies Branko Dzinovic of Serbia (2017). Master of Arts degree candidates include Chris Gao of China (2017) and Michael Bridge of Canada (2017).
A selective list of awards include: City of Guelph Civic Ring (1964), Mississauga Musician of the Year (1987), Toronto Musicians Association, Lifetime Achievement Award (2009), Officer of the Order of Canada (2013), Award for Excellence in Teaching, Faculty of Music, University of Toronto (2015), Presiding Official Citizenship Ceremonies (2014-Present), Established Joseph and Frances Macerollo Endowment for Accordion, Faculty of Music, University of Toronto (2016).