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Gemini award winning composer, producer & musician Claudio Vena has had an eclectic career. As a composer for Film and Television, he has scored the feature films, The Road to The Lemon Grove, Silver Man and Boy Meets Girl and his arrangements were used in the Norman Jewison movie Only You staring Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr.

He has scored documentaries and won a Gemini Award for the 2011 TO in 24 and Johnny Lombardi, The Great Communicator. His score for King John for the 2014 Stratford Festival not only ran for 7 months on stage, but has been released as a feature film. His other compositions for this festival include original scores for The Lion The Witch & The Wardrobe (2016), King John (2015), Romeo & Juliet (2013), Peter Pan (2010) and Hamlet in 2008.

He is currently composer for the Shaw Festival in Niagara On The Lake. Productions there include Desire Under The Elms, 2020-2021, Victory (2019), The Magicians Nephew (2018) and St. Joan (2017). He has also composed music for the 2010 Canadian Stage production of Romeo & Juliet, which played in High Parks outdoor theatre.

From 2001 till 2005, his music could be heard daily, as the background music to the CBC television news shows, The National, Canada Now and The Main Network News. He has written jingles for the Canadian market for Telus and Chrysler and composed a score for The Wanderers, a CBC Radio drama.

Claudio is currently the conductor/music director the CCSA Orchestra in Toronto. This orchestra played in Beijing at the meet in Beijing 2019 Arts Festival. He has held positions as Conductor/Music Director with the Academy Chamber Orchestra at the Royal Conservatory of Toronto, The Burlington Symphony and The Huronia Symphony. He has appeared as guest conductor across Canada and was Assistant Conductor for The Hart House Orchestra (1987 – 1993) and the Toronto production of Miss Saigon (1992 – 1995).

His first major recording and debut as conductor and arranger was with baritone of the Met, Louis Quillico, on the CD Ricordi d’Italia. Since then, Claudio has released and produced 3 solo Cds, La Vita E Un Circo (2005), Peter Pan Soundtrack (2010) and Romeo & Juliet (2011) as well as the recordings Quartetto Gelato, Rustic Chivalry and Aria Fresca. He cofounded the group Quartetto Gelato and during his 12 year tenure with QG, Claudio won NPR’s Debut Artist of the Year and received 2 Juno nominations. The first 3 recordings of QG were co-produced with Chad Irschick and include many arrangements and original compositions of Claudio.

As record producer, he has worked with “Canada’s Chamber Music Treasure” (Toronto Star), Ensemble Vivant since 2008. Recordings include, Homage to Piazzolla, Fete Francaise, Audience Favourites and Mysterium. He has also produced recordings for Canadian pop artists Alfie Zappacosta, Michelle B and Diana Kristina Salvatore. He has worked in studio with Blue Rodeo, Jim Cuddy, Ron Sexsmith, Ann Murray, Steven Page, Ashley MacIsaac and Patricia O’Callaghan.

As a violist, violinist, accordionist, guitarist and mandolin player, Claudio has performed and regularly performs with artists such as Paul Anka, Andrea Bocelli, Jim Cuddy, Placido Domingo, Roger Hodgson, Robert Michaels, Anne Murray, Patricia O’Calighan, Page and Plant, Luciano Pavarotti, Robert Pilon, Blue Rodeo, Rod Stewart and Alfie Zappacosta. He also appeared regularly on the CTV show Canadian Idol as a member of the Band during it’s 6 year run. He also was the electric Viola/Mandoline player with the progressive rock group FM. They have released a DVD of their 2006 concert at NearFest in Bethlehem Pennsylvania.