Anthony Cardella is an award-winning concert pianist, composer, and educator based in Los Angeles. He has performed throughout the United States and internationally, with appearances across Europe including Spain, Italy, France, Serbia, Hungary, and Turkey. His work spans solo, chamber, and collaborative performance, engaging both classical repertoire and contemporary works, with a particular interest in programming that places traditional music alongside that of living composers.
Originally from Wisconsin, Anthony moved to Los Angeles in 2019 after completing his undergraduate studies at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. Since then, he has remained active as a performer, teacher, and collaborator while continuing his academic work at the USC Thornton School of Music. He is currently Assistant Professor of Music at Occidental College and an instructor at The Colburn School, and his private studio in Los Angeles includes students who have earned awards and recognition at regional and national competitions.
Anthony has been praised for his virtuosity, refined touch, and expressive playing that connects with audiences on a deeply emotional level. He is known for assembling programs that highlight both technical command and artistic vulnerability, often incorporating interdisciplinary elements that bridge music with visual art and film. His collaborative projects have included performances with projected animations created by the USC School of Cinematic Arts as well as contemporary artwork by American painters.
As a composer, Anthony’s work is strongly influenced by synesthesia and the relationship between visual art and sound. His compositions explore the translation of color, texture, and form into musical language, with recent world premieres in Los Angeles and at the 2024 Venice Biennale, where he premiered his Piano Sonata Only Through Time Is Time Conquered.
Anthony holds a Bachelor of Music with honors in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Lawrence University and Conservatory of Music and a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. He is currently completing his Doctorate of Musical Arts at USC, where he has served as a teaching assistant for the piano department while conducting research in musicology and pedagogy. His pedagogical interests include modernized teaching approaches, injury prevention and ergonomic piano playing, and the integration of diverse musical genres to prepare students for multifaceted artistic careers. His mentors have included Daniel Pollack, Michael Mizrahi, Silva Costanzo, and Stephen Pierce.
