Doctoral music student Anthony Calabrese has won both First Prize in the solo marimba category and Grand Final Prize for best overall soloist in the Fourth International Competition of Composition and Performance for Percussion Instruments and Drumset.

The competition, which drew over 40 participants from Spain, Macedonia, Italy, China, Germany, Poland, Greece and elsewhere, is sponsored by the Conservatorio di Musica “G.B. Pergolesi” in Fermo, Italy in collaboration with the Italian chapter of the Percussive Arts Society.  It was part of Italy’s annual Giornate della Percussione [Days of Percussion] conference.  As part of his prize, Calabrese will travel back to Italy make his European debut as a concerto soloist.

A native of Geneva, NY, Anthony Calabrese is a second year doctoral student and is a student of Professor Michael Burritt and Chicago Symphony Orchestra member James Ross.  Calabrese has performed with the Elgin Symphony and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and currently teaches at Trinity College in Deerfield, IL.  He holds a Bachelor's Degree and Performer's Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, and earned a master’s degree from Northwestern in 2004.