Richard Giangiulio is the son of Dominique and Jennie Giangiulio. He first began playing at age 10 when he found his grandfather's trumpet in the attic. Giangiulio practiced hours a day as a youth; his motivation is exemplified by his refusal on one occasion to travel to his grandmother's house before successfully playing Clark's "Etude 2" twice in one breath. Early in his musical development, he also made the difficult decision to forfeit his deep love for tennis in order to pursue a professional career in trumpet performance.
Education
At the age of 16, Giangiulio was accepted to the Curtis Institute of Music, where he successfully competed with considerably older and more experienced students. Upon graduation, at 20, he matriculated into the Juilliard School and subsequently obtained a master's degree in trumpet performance. As a Fulbright Scholar, he then attended the Conservatoire de Paris, where he studied under the tutelage of Maurice André.
Prior to his acceptance into the Curtis Institute of Music, Giangiulio made his professional debut at 13 with the Philadelphia Orchestra, performing "Showers of Gold." Then, at 14, he won a major competition and was invited to perform "Concert Etude" on a television broadcast. He made the transition to playing in an orchestra when he secured a position in the Israel Philharmonic. Giangiulio was the First Medal winner of the prestigious Geneva International Trumpet Competition in 1967. Two years later he won the audition for principal trumpet of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, a position he held for 32 years. In addition, he has performed as soloist with the Dallas Symphony, the Knoxville Symphony, and festivals Bachwoche Ansbach, Lucerne, Switzerland, and in Lieksa, Finland.
Discography
Giangiulio has recorded seven albums for Crystal Records, including solo and chamber music. Some of his most notable recordings include "Pistons and Pipes," "Treasures for Horn and Trumpet," and "Music for Festive Occasions." His playing has been praised as "a treasure, filled with that will be loved by all brass fans."
Conducting
Giangiulio made the transition to conducting in 1981 when he became music director of the Greater DallasYouth Orchestra, having had some prior experience as a guest conductor of Dallas Symphony Orchestra children's concerts. Under his leadership, the GDYO has performed major symphonic works and is considered one of the top youth orchestras in the nation. In addition to conducting, Giangiulio stays active by maintaining a selective private trumpet studio and his mute company.
