Italian born PETER BELLINO moved to the United States at the age of seven and began to study violin and piano at the age of 12. He was accepted at the Mannes College of Music at age 17 and majored in piano while studying with the renowned pianist Richard Goode. He studied conducting skills with Paul Berl at Mannes and after graduation he continued to refine his conducting skills with Henry Lewis. As a student at Mannes he performed in a piano master class taught by Carl Ulrich Schnabel and he was the winner of the annual piano concerto competition.

            After graduating with honors from Mannes, Mr. Bellino was granted a full scholarship by Mr. Goode to continue his piano studies. He availed himself of this generous opportunity for two more years and then moved to Rome, Italy. In Rome he was accepted into the post-graduate composition class at the Academia di Santa Cecilia taught by Goffredo Petrassi. While in Rome, Mr. Bellino was appointed pianist of the Forum Players and with this ensemble toured and recorded extensively throughout Europe.

            As a soloist, Mr. Bellino recorded for Radio Erin in Dublin, the BBC of Scotland, the Spanish Radio of Madrid, and RAI of Rome. He performed in many international music festivals among which are those of Madrid, Edinburgh, Como, the Mario del Monaco Festival in Monte Pulciano, the Verdi Opera House Festival in Pisa, Italy, and the Cosenza Opera House.

            In 1983 Mr. Bellino gave his New York conducting debut in Carnegie Recital Hall and in 1984 conducted the American Symphony Orchestra in Lincoln Center.. Since then he has conducted the Rubenstein Philharmonic in Lodz, Poland, the Krakow Philharmonic, the Rosario Philharmonic in Argentina, the Rosario Chamber Orchestra, the El Salvador Symphony Orchestra and the Chaco Symphony. He has been a frequent conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Buenos Aires in nationally broadcast performances.

            Last year he returned to Buenos Aires to conduct the Buenos Aires Philharmonic in the Colon Theatre. Mr. Bellino’s compositions include two symphonies for large orchestra, two symphonic poems for voice and orchestra, songs for voice and piano, a sonata for violoncello and piano, a sonata for solo violin, a solo for flute, a lullaby for flute, a lullaby for flute and guitar, a piano sonata, and numerous other piano works. His music is published by the Willis Music Company (Ohio) and the Lecomte Publishing Company (New York). This season marks Maestro Bellino’s fifth year with the Doctor’s Orchestra.