MICHAEL
RICCIARDONE
Voice Instructor | Conductor | Pianist | Coach | Lecturer | Actor | Teacher
BIOGRAPHY
Michael Ricciardone has worked extensively in musical theatre and classical music both as a singer/ performer and as a pianist/coach/conductor. He joined the national tour of Sunset Boulevard in 1999, performing the role of Max. In the summer of 1998 he starred as Georges in the Theatrefest production of La Cage aux Folles at Montclair State University. He completed a South American tour as the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, and appeared as Major Griniev in The Captain’s Daughter at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center. His most recent credits include Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha and Charles in High Spirits. On television, he was the first actor to sing on the series Law and Order. Mr. Ricciardone has also been featured in Broadway Cares, Equity Fights AIDS and in pops concerts with the Cairo Symphony (Egypt), Festival of the Atlantic and St. Peter’s Orchestra.
In the classical repertoire, he has sung the leading tenor roles in New York premieres of Leoncavallo’s Zaza and Zandovai’s Giulietta e Romeo, as well as leading roles in La Bohême, Carmen, Cavalleria Rusticana, La Rondine and La Traviata. An accomplished pianist, Mr. Ricciardone has worked with Richard Burton, Richard Harris and Rex Harrison. He has been Assistant Chorus Master and Assistant Conductor at the Metropolitan Opera under David Stivender; Co-Chorus Master and Assistant Conductor for San Francisco Opera; and Music Administrator, Chorus Master and Assistant Conductor for Greater Miami Opera. On Broadway he has served as Assistant Conductor to Franz Allers for productions and national tours of My Fair Lady and Camelot.
Sitzprobe of The Student Prince
Mr. Ricciardone was the co-founder and artistic director of Brooklyn Theatre Works. He holds degrees in piano, accompanying and conducting from Mannes College of Music and Manhattan School of Music, with additional study at Catholic University of America and The Juilliard School. As a singer, Mr. Ricciardone has studied primarily with Dr. Robert C. White, Jr in New York and has also worked extensively with Jeannette LoVetri. He has studied acting with Frank Corsaro, Jack Allison and Charles Kakatsakis.
Mr. Ricciardone has taught voice privately in New York for over 30 years. He has served on the voice faculty at the Turtle Bay Music School, where he also directed the Opera Workshop, and at NYU Steinhardt, where he was the Associate Coordinator of Vocal Studies from 1998 to 2018. He has taught Song Analysis and Music Theatre Repertoire, a course which he wrote, in addition to teaching a full voice studio. He has also served as conductor and music director for numerous NYU productions, including Assassins, Fiorello!, Hansel and Gretel, A Chorus Line, The Apple Tree, Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, The Most Happy Fella, Kiss Me, Kate, Man of La Mancha, The Student Prince, The Pirates of Penzance, Cosi fan tutte, The Marriage of Figaro, and Dialogues of the Carmelites. He was the recipient of a Teaching Excellence Award 2005-2006 from NYU Steinhardt.
As Don Quixote, Yorktown Stage, 1999
"Michael not only brought his enormous skill as a vocal coach & pianist, but also his vast knowledge of the musical theatre repertoire. He trains the entire student, and not just an instrument. It was truly fantastic to see students' reaction to the information that they've been hearing. Most impressive about Michael's time here was his dauntless energy and commitment. You are extremely lucky to have him on your faculty."
-John Shepard, Chair of Theatre, Point Park University Conservatory of Performing Arts