Dillon Moran Musicians in Residence

List of 3 items.

• 2023-24: Paolo Schianchi

  Severn is excited to welcome Paolo Schianchi as our 2023-24 Dillon Moran Musician in Residence. 

  
  Paolo Schianchi is considered by many one of the best Italian musicians of his generation. He is an out of the ordinary performer, able to master all the varieties of the guitar, spanning from the Renaissance lute to visionary instruments which he has personally invented. Among them, a 49-string guitar (specifically made for him by the Argentine luthier Carlos Roberto Michelutti) and the Octopus (a patented, complex electro-acoustic system which enables him to play several guitars contemporaneously using both hands and feet, mixing their sounds in real time exclusively live). Both the 49-string guitar and the Octopus are  currently unique worldwide.

   

  Paolo is a guitarist, composer, arranger, producer, researcher, inventor and educator. He has earned 4 University Degrees in Music and in Communication in Europe, and in 2012 he became the first Artist in Residence in the history of  Saint Francis University (PA), founded 1847. He was also the first soloist to perform in a concert on the guitar at Carnegie Museum of Art (PA, USA).
  
  Read the recap story on Paolo Schianchi's visit, written by Emily Leach '24.

• 2022-23: Julian Gargiulo

  Pianist and composer Julian Gargiulo was the 2023 Dillon Moran Musician in Residence. Gargiulo spent two full days with Severn students, where he performed for both the Upper School and Middle School, taking questions from the audience afterwards. He also held a small-group composer discussion with AP Music Theory students, a composing discussion with Music Tech students, and a piano recording session with the Recording Studio class. In addition, he hosted coaching sessions with two of Severn’s performance groups - Instrument Ensemble and Treble Choir. He also held an Open Masterclass where students performed and received feedback from Gargiulo, and he had lunch each day with students interested in music.  His residency concluded with an evening concert that was open to the public.

• 2021-22: Super City

  For our 2021-2022 Dillon Moran Musician in Residence program, local Baltimore band Super City joined us for two days of performances and workshops for our Middle and Upper School students with a final show open to Severn families and friends on Friday evening. From jam band sessions to rehearsing vocals with our Severn vocal ensembles, Super City gave our students a peek into band life, offering practical advice to let their creativity shine.
  
  

  Melodic and guitar driven, Super City is known for their hooky pop sound that blends heavy rock elements and danceability, all with coordinated band choreography that results in killer live performances. This Baltimore band expertly crafts guitar and synth earworms that thrive on the creative tension between bombastic rock and roll and stylized movements. Their structures and melodies leave no room for a dull track. At times soothing and inviting, at times posturing and timeless, Dan Ryan and Greg Wellham vocally guide this pop band into a new, heavy, and beguiling territory that is both memorable and brash.

   

  Super City is Dan Ryan (lead vocals, guitar), Greg Wellham (lead vocals, guitar), Brian Brunsman (bass, vocals), Jon Birkholz (guitar, keys, vocals), and Ian Viera (drums & vocals).