‘Anchors Aweigh’: Giancarlo Bazzano plays in the U.S. Navy Band

by Sarah Barr

Staff Writer

A career playing the clarinet was born all because his music teacher said he didn’t have any rhythm.

That’s how former Rocky Hill resident Giancarlo Bazzano starts his story that carried him across the ocean from Italy to playing with the U.S. Navy Band.

“I started studying music when I was 8, first in percussion,” he said. “I chose the clarinet, an unexpected decision that turned out to be the right one.”

Bazzano was drawn to the clarinet through memories of the community band in his hometown in Sicily. The clarinet played an important role in local year-round celebrations. He was also inspired to excel because of his teacher. He took his lessons seriously and that helped define his musical direction.

Giancarlo Bazzano takes great patriotic pride in playing with the U.S. Navy Band. (Submitted)

After earning a bachelor’s degree from the prestigious Co

nservatorio Vincenzo Bellini in Catania, he came to this country in 1999 to study privately with Kalmen Opperman in New York City. Opperman sponsored Bazzano’s student visa and the young man went on to win a full scholarship to the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, where he earned his graduate diploma in music performance.

He performed with symphony orchestras in New Britain, Manchester and West Hartford. He also got married in 2003 and that’s when he moved to Rocky Hill. He became a U.S. citizen a few years later.

Now it was time to set his sights on his musical mission. He won several awards in both national and international competitions as a soloist and as a member of chamber music ensembles in the United States, Europe and Canada. He has performed with the Baltimore, Fairfax, and Apollo chamber orchestras in famous venues such as the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and Carnegie Hall in New York City.

“I took many auditions for orchestras and military bands, learning and growing with each experience,” Bazzano said. “Eventually, I won the audition with the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, D.C., which marked a major milestone in my professional journey.”

That was 2011. He might have left this town, but it didn’t leave him.

“Rocky Hill is a safe and welcoming community with a diverse population. I have always appreciated its natural amenities, particularly Dinosaur State Park, which offers a unique historical experience with its preserved prehistoric footprints,” he said.

“Its central location is another key strength, providing convenient access to major cities such as New York, Boston and Providence, as well as cultural landmarks like the Mark Twain House, the Noah Webster House and the Hartford Capitol.”

But it’s the deeply rooted culture that continues to speak to him.

“The town’s strong Italian community helps preserve cultural traditions and fosters a sense of warmth and connection that is personally meaningful to me as an Italian,” he added.

“What I carry closest to my heart from my time in Connecticut is the strong sense of community, the relationships I built with family and friends, and an enduring peace I found living there. It is the combination of those personal relationships and the natural environment that helped ground me as a young adult. It shaped my perspective on life and so, in that sense, I take the community with me wherever I go.”

Bazzano now lives in the Washington, D.C., region, where life is a faster pace. The contrast makes him appreciate his local roots even more, almost as much as his musical roots. What he loves about the Navy Band is its “unique combination of musical excellence and service.

“As a clarinetist, I value the opportunity to perform at a very high level with a disciplined and professional ensemble. Equally meaningful is the connection with audiences in a wide range of settings, from formal ceremonies to community and educational outreach events,” he said.

“I also value participating in historic national celebrations, such as the upcoming 250th anniversary of our nation, which allows us to reflect on our heritage and share that sense of pride with audiences across the country.”

While not having any personal favorite songs, Bazzano has a strong appreciation for symphonic works and compositions written by living composers worldwide. He has produced several videos and audio recordings, including a collection of Italian operas arranged for clarinet and piano.

“I’m a strong believer that music speaks directly to human emotion in a way that words alone often cannot. On an individual level, music helps us process experience and shape memories. This is especially evident in the work the Navy Band does for veterans and fallen service members,” he said.

“In those moments, music serves as a final tribute, offering dignity, honor and comfort to families who have lost their loved ones. It is a profound reminder of the responsibility and meaning behind our role as musicians in uniform.”

As for what’s next, Bazzano enjoys mentoring younger musicians and is giving numerous master classes and clinics across Europe and the U.S. RHL

For more information about the U.S. Navy Band go to navyband.navy.mil/about/history.