Samuel DeCaprio, Artistic Director
A dynamic leader at the intersection of performance and cultural advocacy, cellist Samuel DeCaprio is a rising arts executive, curator, and educator dedicated to redefining the role of the modern musician. As the Founder and Artistic Director of the Arazzo Music Festival, DeCaprio oversees the executive administration, strategic development, and artistic curation of the Connecticut-based nonprofit. Since its inception in 2022, he has transformed the festival into a vital vehicle for the democratization of classical music, providing free, high-caliber chamber music and community-focused educational programming through partnerships with diverse cultural institutions. His administrative work is further supported by state-level recognition, as he is a multi-year recipient of the Supporting Arts Grant from the Connecticut Office of the Arts.
DeCaprio’s executive leadership is grounded in an elite academic pedigree, culminating in a Doctor of Musical Arts from The Juilliard School, where he served as a C.V. Starr Fellow and a Teaching Assistant to the late Joel Krosnick. His commitment to the future of the field is reflected in a multifaceted pedagogical career; he currently helps shape the next generation of artists through his continuing work at Juilliard and Musart Music School, while maintaining a vibrant private studio. He views the integration of technical mastery and administrative innovation as essential for the sustainable growth of the performing arts, focusing his leadership on creating inclusive artistic environments that bridge the gap between traditional institutions and local communities.
On the concert stage, DeCaprio maintains a high-level career as a soloist, chamber musician, and sought-after freelancer. His New York debut featured the North American premiere of Grażyna Bacewicz’s Cello Concerto No. 2 with the Juilliard Orchestra under David Robertson at Alice Tully Hall. A versatile presence in New York’s prestigious venues, he has performed as a substitute with the New York Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, and Princeton Symphony Orchestra. He is also a significant contributor to the theatrical landscape, having served as first cellist for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Orchestra and has performed in the orchestras of numerous Broadway productions, including Aladdin, Gypsy, Old Friends, Ragtime, Redwood, and Sunset Blvd, among others.
An active chamber musician and recording artist, DeCaprio’s festival appearances include Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute, IMS Prussia Cove, Kneisel Hall, Meadowmount, and Orford Musique. He has collaborated with many of the industry’s most distinguished artists, including Atar Arad, Paul Biss, Natasha Brofsky, Steven Doane, Vladimir Feltsman, Joseph Lin, Daniel Phillips, David Shifrin, Barry Snyder, and Irma Vallecillo. His discography includes recordings for Nonesuch Records, ECM Records, Delos, and MSR Classics, featuring premieres of works by composers such as Timo Andres and Tyondai Braxton.
In addition to his doctorate from Juilliard, DeCaprio holds a Master of Musical Arts from the Yale School of Music, a Professional Studies Diploma from the Mannes School of Music, a Master of Music and Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music summa cum laude from the University of Connecticut. His principal teachers include Joel Krosnick, Aldo Parisot, Marcy Rosen, Steven Doane, and Kangho Lee. Through his dual roles as a performer and executive, DeCaprio continues to advocate for a more inclusive and innovative future for the classical music industry.