About

As a concert accordionist and composer, David Carovillano has spent the better part of two decades exploring creativity without constraint.  After completing his Master of Music degree from the University of Toronto, he has embarked on a 20 year odyssey performing as part of the internationally-recognized duo, Acclarion alongside his wife, clarinetist, Rebecca Sajo-Carovillano.  Together, their career has taken them on tours across Canada and the United States, performing in almost every Canadian province and territory, as well as a dozen U.S. states, while receiving invitations to perform internationally in China and Columbia. Acclarion has released 4 albums, the self-titled debut, Acclarion, What If…?, Shattered Expectations, and the clarinet and piano album, Reflections.  They have also performed with Order of Canada bassoonist, George Zukerman, harpist, Erica Goodman, and Juno-award winning pianist, Angela Park.  As unique and unfamiliar as their exploration of the accordion and clarinet are, Acclarion has been well-received by the arts and broadcasting community.  Two, hour-long CBC radio specials, countless CBC national and regional shows, including Disk Drive and the Vinyl Cafe, NPR Radio in the United States, Radio-Belgrade, among others have featured their music extensively.

In 2013, while continuing to perform, David turned his attention to composing for chamber ensembles and orchestras.  Respecting the centuries of Western art music tradition, from the Baroque to the avant-garde, David writes music that at its heart remains beautiful, sincere, and accessible to listeners, while presenting sophisticated and intricate artistic elements that inspire musicians to play it.  Classical Follies for String Orchestra was premiered by the Windsor Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Robert Franz, in 2015.  The Fall of Man for Orchestra, was premiered in 2019 by Maestro Daniel Wiley and the W.S.C.O.  Former Principal Cellist of the Michigan Opera Theater, Nadine Deleury, has alongside her colleagues, performed chamber string music, including String Quartet No. 1, two string trios, In the Blink of an Eye, and Premonition, and premiered a work for clarinet, accordion, and string quartet, Bach to the Future.  Members of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra have premiered Whisper in the Wind for flute, viola, and harp, which has also been performed by musicians from Windsor-based, 4th Wall Concerts.  David was recently awarded an Ontario Arts Council grant based on a commission from the Toronto-based Odin Quartet, to complete his third string quartet, Apotheosis, which was premiered in Toronto, March, 2023.

Looking to reach new audiences, David’s recent virtual concerts and multimedia events have been successful in marrying energetic live performances alongside virtual instruments and stunning visual imagery that captivates audiences.  The Canada Council for the Arts awarded David a grant to complete Circus of the Mind, a 30 minute online multimedia event featuring accordion and clarinet performances with virtual string quartet, marimba, and classical guitar.  The Ontario Arts Council honoured David with a grant to complete the score for his one-of-a-kind concerto for accordion, clarinet, and orchestra, Indomitable Spirit.  The A.C.H.F. funded two additional projects, Clarinet for the Soul, a virtual concert featuring Rebecca Sajo-Carovillano debuting a movement from David’s clarinet concerto, The Soul Awakens, and the creation of a new composer concert series that will be developed in the coming years.

In addition to live music performance, David is recognized for his expertise in utilizing computers and virtual instruments to create outstanding, realistic renditions of orchestral and chamber music.  Numerous of his compositions have been featured as official demos for the Vienna Symphonic Library, and his work, Vesuvius for Violin and Piano, employing the Joshua Bell violin, has been featured by the virtual instrument company, Embertone.  To date, David has produced well over one hundred works for various chamber ensembles and orchestra that are performed using virtual instruments; among them, The Sword of Damocles for marimba and string quartet, Euphoria for wind quintet, Pathos and Rapture piano quintet, and Chasing Brilliance for orchestra.  David’s 2023 album releases include Do You Hear Me? featuring orchestral works highlighted by the five-movement suite, The Forces of Nature, and an upcoming album of string quartets, Lost In It.

David is grateful to have been able to retire in his 30s owing to his relentless pursuit of the F.I.R.E. principles (financial independence, retire early) so that he may now enjoy the benefit of writing and performing music without any external forces affecting his creativity…well, that is except for his precocious daughter, Aria, walking into his music studio and showing him how to tickle the ivories.