Tom Colao
Tom Colao enjoys a diverse musical career as a conductor, organist, singer, and composer. He is currently holds the post of Principal Organist & Choral Accompanist at Grace United Methodist Church in Naperville, IL, as well as serving as Associate Conductor of the Northwest Choral Society, based in Des Plaines, IL, and accompanist for the Allegro Chorus in Palatine, IL. Born and raised in the northern suburbs of Chicago, Mr. Colao attended the Mannes College of Music in Manhattan, studying voice and choral conducting, before transferring to Westminster Choir College to pursue studies in organ with Dr. Matthew Lewis. While at Westminster, he sang as a member of the renowned Westminster Choir, under the direction of Dr. Joe Miller. Additionally, he performed with the Choir as both a tenor and organ soloist on two national tours, and at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, where he made his professional operatic debut as Le Chansonnier in Charpentier’s Louise. From 2010 until 2018, Mr. Colao served as Director of Music & Organist at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Princeton, NJ. Under his direction, the music program grew each season in both size and quality, resulting in numerous collaborations and appearances with other local ensembles, including an international tour in February 2014, which culminated in the Choir’s performance as the first American ensemble to sing in concert inside the Sistine Chapel. As Music Director and Principal Conductor for Princeton’s Opera MODO from 2011-14, Mr. Colao has led productions of Menotti’s The Medium, Handel’s Giulio Cesare, Puccini’s Il Trittico, and Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail. In demand as both a tenor soloist and chorister, he has made appearances with ensembles across the New York/Philadelphia metropolitan areas, including The Kinnara Ensemble, Cantori New York, Choral Chameleon, and Princeton Pro Musica. Mr. Colao has had compositions and arrangements performed by the Choir of Trinity Church, Manhattan, Trinity Church, Princeton, the Westminster Choral Scholars, the Choir of All Saints’ Church, Princeton, Clarum Sonum, and the NYC chamber chorus Choral Chameleon. He maintains an active schedule as a recitalist, freelance conductor, collaborative pianist, and vocal coach.
