He began studies at the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia in Rome when only ten years old, and was one of the youngest students to gain diplomas in pianoforte and composition. He then studied with Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli and Carlo Zecchi at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, gaining diplomas in pianoforte and chamber music. Since 1984 he is Professor of Composition at the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia where, for over ten years, he was also Deputy Director. Beginning in the late seventies he lectures on composition in many parts of Europe, Asia and the United States. A large number of his students are already international prize-winners.
In 2003 he was nominated Member of the National Dance Commission (Ministry of Fine Arts and Culture) and in 2004 appointed lecturer at the Polytechnic for Arts and Sciences, Vibo Valentia.
His works are programmed in international festivals and concert series: Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Edinburgh Festival, Festival Lutoslawski, Cantiere Internazionale di Montepulciano, Nuova Consonanza, Incontri Musicali Romani, Festival de Chartres, Public Concert Season of the Moscow Conservatory.
Some of his most significant works include: Concerto per violino ed orchestra, recorded by Orchestra Sinfonica della RAI in Turin, Konzertstück, large orchestra, commissioned by Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzese, Trivium, voice and chamber orchestra, commissioned by Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Nachtmusik, strings, written for the Royal Festival Hall, London, string quartets, choral works for many famous Roman Basilicas, and Laudarium in Honorem Beata Vergine Maria, for the Aula Paolo VI, Vatican, Grand Jubilee Celebrations in the year 2000. His symphonic work “Envers” was presented in Rome’s Auditorium del Parco della Musica in the 2003 season. He composes soundtracks for television, cinema and for cinema as well as music for the theatre and ballet.
Almost all his music is published and/or recorded on CD: Casa Musicale Sonzogno – Carrara - BMG Ricordi –Bérbèn – Edipan - Pentaflowers - (Italia) – Reimers AB (Sweden) – Lyra Music (USA) – MMB Publications (USA) – Edizioni Rugginenti.
Gian Paolo Chiti is “composer in residence” at the Charleston University, South Carolina in February 2005.
