Staff Member: Ralph Belvedere
Ralph Belvedere
Director of Music
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Ralph Belvedere, our Director of Music, is an active musician, linguist, and teacher. An accomplished liturgical and concert organist, he has performed for both domestic and international audiences. A graduate of Fairfield University, he studied Italian and Music Theory. Upon graduation from Fairfield, he studied conducting at the Juilliard School in Manhattan under the late Maestro Vincent La Selva, and composition with Dr. Conrad Cummings. He later received his Master’s from CCSU in Italian Literature, and is currently pursuing his Doctoral Studies at the University of Connecticut in Italian.
As a pastoral musician, Ralph studied organ at a young age under the direction of the late Mary Gabriele at Saint Pius X Church in Wolcott, and Claudette Micket at The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury. Ralph has most recently served as Music Director and organist at Saint Jude’s and Saint Mary’s in Derby, of Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Parish. He earlier served as accompanist and co-director of the Lord’s Chord’s at the Egan Chapel at Fairfield University during his entire undergraduate studies. Ralph served as Alumni Liaison, Concert Manager, and President of the Fairfield University Glee Club, who premiered several of his original compositions. He has served as Director for the Thomaston Ladies’ Choral Club, and has professional affiliations as a singer, director, and associate accompanist with area church choirs and choruses, most notably with Dr. Carole Ann Maxwell both at Fairfield University and the Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut. Ralph currently composes and arranges music for choruses and orchestras, and provides original compositions for liturgical, theatrical, film, and concert performances.
In pedagogy, Ralph’s passion and energy for both Italian and music education can be found in his classroom, having taught both subjects in the Waterbury Public School system. At the Waterbury Arts Magnet School, he served as the director and accompanist of the middle school chorus, accompanist to the high school chorus, and other various musical activities. Ralph served as music director for several theatrical performances in conjunction with the theatre department. He served on the teacher leadership committee, NEASC committee, and was an advisor to the Senior Class, HERO Club, and Books and Blooms.
In March of 2022, Ralph was awarded Teacher of the Year for the Waterbury Arts Magnet School, and a finalist for the Waterbury Public Schools district-wide Teacher of the Year in May of 2022. He currently teaches Italian at Pomperaug High School, and is a guest professor of Italian.
When not teaching or performing, Ralph enjoys international travel, watching a great movie or series, and chocolate.
