Michele Caniato

Michele Caniato's compositions and arrangements have been performed by Andy McGee, Jeff Stout, Igor Butman, Diego Urcola, Shannon LeClaire, the Kendrick Oliver Big Band, Berklee Faculty Big Band, New England Conservatory Jazz Composers Big Band, the 14th Coltrane Memorial Concert at Northeastern University and the BMI New York Jazz Composers Orchestra. Caniato has received numerous grants and awards such as the Fulbright Award, Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist Grant in Music Composition, the Amelia Gallucci-Cirio Endowment Grant, Marion and Jasper Whiting Foundation Grant, Massachusetts Cultural Council Professional Development Grant and various Faculty Scholarship/Creative Awards and Leadership Awards at Fitchburg State University.

Caniato published various articles on jazz theory and repertoire in the Annual Review of Jazz Studies and the International Association of Jazz Educators Research journal and presented papers at national and international conferences.

Dr. Caniato received a Bachelor of Music degree in saxophone performance and jazz composition from Berklee College and a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition from Boston University

He is former Professor of Music and ensemble director at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts. His time is shared between composing, conducting, theory, and education.