Opera/Choral

Dr. Gerard Floriano is a regular guest conductor in Europe, conducting conderts in Krakow, Warsaw, Prague, Barcelona, Florence, Rome, Vienna, Salzburg and Leipzig. His expertise ranges from choral muisc and opera to American Musical Theatre, including performances of over 25 full length operas including Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci, Die Fledermaus, La Boheme, Il Tritico, Don Pasquale, L’Elisir d’Amore, Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Die Zauberflöte and The Tender Land as well as Amahl and the Night Visitors, Show Boat, and Candide. In addition, Dr. Floriano was invited to write an article on Jerome Kern for the Encyclopedia of Broadway and American Culture. Floriano's colleagues respect the inspiring musical standards and exacting rehearsal efficiency that he brings to the podium. As an accomplished orchestral conductor who has worked extensively with singers, he possesses a keen understanding of the instrumental challenges and vocal demands of opera, enabling him to get exceptional results from the performers. Writing about a recent production, Rochester "Democrat & Chronicle" music critic John Pitcher wrote “Floriano proved to be nothing less than a virtuoso conductor… He led his fine orchestra with color, precision and a welcome degree of sweep... ushering in a New Age of Opera” in Western New York.

A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Gerard Floriano began his career as Director of Choral Activities at Memphis State University, and is currently Professor of Conducting and Director of Choral Activities at the State University of New York at Geneseo where he received the coveted SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activity. His conducting positions have included fellowships at the Aspen Summer Music Festival and the Oregon Bach Festival, Resident Conductor at the Brevard Music Center, and Artistic Director of the Rochester Opera Factory. Since 2005, he has been Co-Artistic Director of Mercury Opera Rochester, a company he co-founded to bring the best in professional opera to Western New York.