Roll over, Beethoven: Drummer-turned-classical-pianist brings chamber trio to Morristown, Nov. 6

Daniel Colalillo
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By Marion Filler

 

Daniel Colalillo is not your typical classical pianist.

His musical career began in high school — drum lessons, marching band at Morris Knolls High School, a couple of rock bands and one year of piano lessons. He hated to practice.

Then, thanks to an older brother, he discovered Beethoven and never looked back.

Now a professional musician, Colalillo and his trio, Classical Keys, will appear on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in a chamber music concert at the First Baptist Church in Morristown.

“When I was 15, I started self-teaching for six months out of sheer desire and want,” said Colalillo. “My parents said, ‘okay, this is enough,’ you’re taking lessons, and I kind of threw the kitchen sink at it.”

“When you’re young, you don’t always know what you want to do with your life. With this, it was very fast. I want to do this for the rest of my life.”

Most professional pianists had a head start and began studying at a much younger age. It incentivized Colalillo to play catch up, and he practiced at every opportunity. He still does, and describes it as a compulsion that is comparable to a smoking habit.

“Whenever I travel, I need to make sure I have a keyboard. I need to practice or else I’ll get moody or feel guilty.”

A native of Denville, Colalillo, 31, has earned degrees from the Purchase Conservatory of Music and the prestigious Mannes School of Music in New York City.

He has performed as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall, Bargemusic, Symphony Space, Columbia and Princeton universities, and venues across the country. And he runs intensive music study camps in Nashville, TN, with his brother, also a musician.

Although he lives in New York City and teaches in a private studio, Colalillo believes chamber music is underrepresented in New Jersey. So he formed Classical Keys with a group of fellow musicians and friends.

“As a musician, you just want to share music with people,” says Colalillo. “It feels great to perform again.”

He returned to Denville for a concert in 2019, right before the pandemic shutdown, and gradually has been making more appearances since things have opened up. A series of concerts with Classical Keys is in the works for 2022; dates to be announced.

His most recent recital took place on Sept. 25 at the First Baptist Church. It was solo performance of the Appassionata Sonata by Beethoven (end of the 3rd Movement).

Video: Daniel Colalillo plays selection from Beethoven’s Appassionata Sonata:

However, on Saturday he will be accompanied by Christopher Bush, principal clarinet with the Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra and the Glens Falls Symphony, who is a faculty member at New York University and Mannes Prep.

Like Bush, cellist Molly Aronson, another member of Classical Keys, has a resume that can fill the page. She has played nationally and internationally with orchestras as well as with popular entertainers such as the Eagles, Josh Groban, Rod Stewart and Michael Buble. She has also recorded soundtracks for Warner Brothers and Sundance films.

Saturday’s program:

Franz Schubert – Arpeggione sonata
Brahms – Op. 117 No. 2 Intermezzo in B flat minor,  Capriccio Op 76 No. 1
Nino Rota – Clarinet Trio (Nino Rota composed the Godfather score)
Brahms – Clarinet trio

Like most churches with high ceilings, the echo effect can be a problem for musicians. Fortunately, there is enough carpeting at First Baptist to cushion the sound. That, and the availability of a Yamaha grand piano, which Colalillo requested moved from ground level to the platform area in front of the church, should make for good acoustics.

That wasn’t the case at the Oculus, the cavernous, white transportation hub adjacent to the World Trade Center designed by Santiago Calatrava.

“It looks cool but I honestly couldn’t hear anything,” Colalillo said. The magnificent soaring roof and marble floors form “a huge space (with) nothing to absorb the sound.”

Dealing with the aftermath of COVID-19 and repairing the damage is his job in society, says Colalillo. William Congreve (1670-1629) figured that out almost 400 years ago when he wrote: “Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast. To soften rocks, or bend the knotted oak.”

Daniel Colalillo’s Classical Keys ensemble performs at 7 pm at Morristown’s First Baptist Church, 51 Washington St. General admission: $25. Tickets online and at the door. The ticket  includes free parking at Dalton Parking Garage. (Tickets will be stamped and validated at the church.) Student tickets: $5 at the door.

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