Writing: what for and for whom
The joys and travails of the artist

Rome, April 27-28, 2015

Monsignor Marco Frisina was born in Rome on 16 December, 1954. After his classical studies, he graduated in Composition at the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia.
In 1978, Msgr. Frisina entered the Pontifical Major Roman Seminary; he obtained a baccalaureate degree in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University and a degree of License in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute. Ordained as a priest in 1982, since then he has carried out his ministry in the Diocese of Rome. He was a spiritual assistant at the Pontifical Major Roman Seminary and then Director of the Liturgical Office of the Vicariate of Rome from 1991 to 2011. He is currently President of the Diocesan Commission for Sacred Art and Cultural Heritage, Consultant of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization and Rector of the Church of S. Cecilia in Trastevere. He is professor at the Pontifical Lateran University and at the Pontifical University of the Santa Croce.
In 1984, Msgr. Frisina founded - and since then directs - the Choir of the Diocese of Rome, which currently consists of  over 250 members, with the aim of accompanying  major diocesan liturgical events, which are often presided over by the Pope. In addition to this liturgical activity, the Choir, over the years, has performed Concerts in many Italian as well as foreign Dioceses and has participated in numerous institutional events. Since 1991, Msgr. Frisina has also been Master (Maestro) Conductor of the Pontifical Lateran Musical Chapel.
That same year he also began a collaboration with the Rai international project “ Bible”, both as a biblical consultant and a composer. In addition to the films of “Bible Project”, over the years, he has composed musical scores for many films with historical and religious themes, made for Rai and Mediaset, among which “ Michele Strogoff”, “Papa Giovanni”, “Giovanni Paolo II”, “Edda Ciano”, “Callas e Onassis”, and the latest “Pompei”, “Puccini”, “Preferisco il Paradiso”.
Composer of numerous liturgical songs which are well known and praised both in Italy and abroad, in his discography there are successful collaborations with the projects of Italian and international artists. Among these, “Silent Night. A Christmas in Rome”, produced with the leader of Chieftains Paddy Moloney in 1998 and “Dalla Terra”, a CD recorded in 2000 by Mina , for whom he composed the songs “Magnificat” and “Nada te turbe”.
He composed and performed, in the presence of the Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, over 20 sacred oratorios inspired by biblical characters and by the life of great saints. In addition to these compositions, two other sacred oratorios deserve to be mentioned: “Cantico dei Cantici”, composed in 2009 and “Passio Caeciliae”, in 2011.
Music can be a powerful weapon, capable of joining the neighbor to the foreigner, making them vibrate in unison with the beauty of Christ’s love.
In 1997, Msgr. Marco Frisina was appointed Academic Virtuoso Professor of the Pontifical Academy of Fine Arts and Letters of the Virtuosi al Pantheon by the Pope John Paul II. He was music director of some significant events of the Great Jubilee 2000, such as the World Youth Day and, more recently, of the RAI event “The Bible day and night – the longest live television in the history of TV.
In 2007, he composed the theatrical work “ La Divina Commedia”, first musical transposition of Dante’s masterpiece. Since January 2009  his second work for theater has also been on stage: “ Il miracolo di Marcellino”, based on the novel “ Marcellino Pane e vino” by Jose Maria Sanchez Silva.
In 2011 he was music director in the Beatification ceremonies of Pope John Paul II on behalf of the Diocese of Rome, for which he also composed the Official Anthem. In the same year, he conducted the Choir of the Diocese of Rome in its first tour in the United States, successfully performing both sacred songs and  Italian traditional  musical pieces at the Cathedral of New York and at the most important theaters in New Jersey.

http://www.marcofrisina.com/website-new/marco-frisina.html