Composer
Vito Di Modugno
Biography
Born in Bari, Italy, Vito Di Modugno has been included among the leading organists in DownBeat magazine’s poll. He began studying music at an early age with his father, the accordionist Pino Di Modugno, and went on to study piano, organ, electric bass and double bass.
He has appeared as an organ soloist with the Arturo Toscanini Symphony Orchestra of Parma in Jon Lord’s concerto for group and orchestra, based on the work first performed by Deep Purple in 1969. He has also been invited to perform in the United States with saxophonists Jerry Bergonzi and Carol Sudhalter.
The Italian magazine Musica Jazz included him among the Hammond organ specialists featured in its supplement and accompanying CD devoted to the instrument’s history. He has received Jazzit magazine’s award for Best Italian Organist on several occasions.
His teaching work has included the Niccolò Piccinni Conservatory in Bari, the E. R. Duni Conservatory in Matera and Il Pentagramma music school in Bari. He has also given jazz masterclasses in Espartinas, near Seville, Spain.