Personality Test: Marc Giosi
There's something inherently dapper and cosmopolitan about the man who ironically considers himself more comfortable on the sidelines than in the spotlight.
But Marc Giosi exudes a comfortable cool no matter what situation he finds himself in: whether it's at the reigns of Chatham Baroque as its executive director or something as irreverent as frequenting one of his favorite haunts, Commonplace Coffee in Garfield.
It would be a gross understatement to say that music is in his blood: His career in the arts began as a classically trained pianist. After completing his bachelor's in piano performance with a concentration in pedagogy from the Crane School of Music, he went on to get his master's in performance from New York University, where he served as an adjunct instructor of piano. At NYU, Giosi studied with noted pianist and author Seymour Bernstein and went on to become conference and events manager for Chamber Music America.
He traded the Big Apple for the Steel City in 2011, when Chatham Baroque snatched him off the market. Adding to his impressive resume is a gig with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre as a part-time pianist.
In his free time, he enjoys all things cultural: opera, ballet, art openings and the symphony. But it's not all black-tie — it doesn't take too much arm-twisting for him to check out the latest and greatest in Pittsburgh's food-and-bar scene.
The star who would play me in the movie version of my life:
I would like to say Jason Statham (love his haircut), but in reality, it would probably be David Hyde Pierce. (He is a fantastic pianist in real life!)
The superpower I wish I had:
The ability to read minds. I think it would make my dating life a lot more efficient.
Favorite season:
Fall — the weather is perfect, and performing-arts schedules start to pick up again.
Favorite ethnic food:
Does pizza count as ethnic food?
Show I have or want to binge watch:
“House of Cards”
My favorite TV or movie villain:
Patrick Bateman from “American Psycho”
If I were auditioning for “American Idol,” my song would be:
“Uptown Funk”
Movie I could watch every time it appears on cable:
“The Shawshank Redemption”
My most embarrassing junk food:
McDonald's, but only on epic road trips. Or epic hangovers.
The first band I saw in concert:
New York Philharmonic's Young Peoples concerts. I was about 5 years old, and it was my very first visit to Lincoln Center.
The best concert I've ever seen:
Other than every one of Chatham Baroque's? The London Symphony Orchestra performing Verdi's Requiem has a special place in my memory.
The Disney character most like me:
I'd like to say Prince Charming, but more likely Eeyore.
Favorite guilty pleasure:
Sleeping in
Favorite lunchtime spot:
Smoke has been the go-to spot lately. The restaurant scene on Butler Street has exploded in the four years since I've been here!
The most dangerous thing I've ever done:
Driving the Cross Bronx Expressway during rush hour
Place I'd most like to visit:
Berlin
My most memorable fashion mistake:
All of those cargo shorts I wore back in the '90s
The last book I read:
“Napoleon: A Life.” I'm in the middle of Will Self's “Dorian” right now.
One word my mother would use to describe me:
Special (not necessarily in a positive way)
When I was 10, I wanted to be:
An architect. Maybe it had to do with my obsession with Legos.
In high school, I was:
Not your typical band geek!
If I could go back, I'd tell my teenage self:
Try harder at math and science.
I'm deathly afraid of:
Spiders
The person I'm most often mistaken for:
Moby
My most treasured fashion accessory:
Probably my tailcoat. I needed it for my solo debut with orchestra back when I was in school. Unfortunately, I don't get invited to too many white-tie events.
I wish I had more time to:
Practice the piano!
If I wasn't the executive director of Chatham Baroque, I'd be:
A bartender
People would be surprised to know that:
I am an inherently shy person! For as many events that I go to, I am probably most comfortable on the sidelines, observing the goings-on.
