The challenge of moving from Italy to the United States to pursue his singing career was first and foremost a financial one for Emiliano Loconsolo, solved by a sacrifice his family made for him.
Loconsolo’s mother, Rosella, sold her home to send her son to study at the Berklee College of Music.
“For my mother to be able to handle the expense was huge,” he said. “She made a big effort.”
Loconsolo was discovered by teachers from the prestigious music school while performing during one of his CantinaJazz wine and jazz concerts around Tuscany in his home country of Italy. They honored him by giving him a “Best Talent” scholarship.
“I was one of the lucky ones,” he said.
Still, the scholarship wouldn’t have been enough to cover the cost of living in Boston for four years. However, Rosella was determined that her son be able to make his dreams come true. He is succeeding.
“This is what I’ve been dreaming about for a long time,” he said.
And Loconsolo can’t thank her enough. He’s also grateful to his Berklee teachers.
“I’m very grateful I had the chance to do this,” he said. “I wouldn’t be the same without it.”
Loconsolo, a jazz countertenor, will continue to make his way to the top of the music world Sunday, Jan. 21, when he sings at Jamie’s Grille and Pub during the restaurant’s Sunday jazz brunch. He will perform from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with Garrison Fewell on guitar, John Funkhouser on bass and Steve Langone on drums.
Local jazz singer and friend Amanda Carr encouraged Loconsolo to contact Jamie’s about performing there. His repertoire is mainly rooted in jazz, although he has also explored more traditional music. He said he will perform jazz standards as well as traditional Italian music Sunday.
For people who miss Sunday’s performance, Loconsolo hopes they will have another opportunity to see him at Jamie’s in the near future. Loconsolo is familiar with the South Shore, having performed last October at the annual fund-raising gala for the Foster Parrots program based in Rockland near Abington. He volunteers at the nationally known avian rescue sanctuary and adoption center.
Born and raised in Milan, Italy, Loconsolo moved to Pisa in 1999 and was living in Tuscany when he received the scholarship. He moved to Boston in 2002 and Providence, R.I., a year ago.
Now 32, out of college and approaching his fifth year living in the United States, Loconsolo is trying to make a living here and continue the process of growing as a musician from new experiences. He had begun his career in Italy, and has basically had to start over from scratch.
“You really need to start from the bottom,” he said. “It’s a totally new world.”
Loconsolo isn’t sure whether he’ll stay in the United States on a more permanent basis or return to Europe to continue his career. He plans to apply for a visa this spring so he can remain here.
Kathryn Koch, The Marshfield Mariner (USA), January 16, 2007