Music & Composition
Francesca loves to play Eastern European folk music with her family and composes original scores for independent films and choreographic projects.
She studied classical piano through the Certificate Program at Peabody Preparatory from 1985-1996 and classical violin from 1988-1992. At Goucher College, she continued to feed her passion for music by studying Ethnomusicology, Classical Voice and African Drumming.
While living in Washington, D.C., Francesca taught music at Sheridan School (K through 8), gave private instrumental lessons and co-directed school musicals. Francesca was CityDance Ensemble’s Composer in Residence from 2000 – 2004 and won an award for “Excellence in Sound Design / Original Composition” for “Prism” during the 2002 Metro DC Dance Awards.
Her original musical compositions have been released on CD as well as performed internationally in small venues and festivals. Compositions include solo and ensemble (including choral) works created for voice, violin, piano / keyboard, percussion (djembe, tongue drum, claves, chimes and non-traditional), fujara, flute, and computer (electronic music). In 2006, Francesca collaborated with PJ Acayan to compose an original sound-track for the full evening length performance, “Ellesmere” for the Millennium Stage Local Dance Commission Project.
From 2010 - 2014, Francesca performed (on violin) with the Tango Mercurio’s Tango Orchestra. Most recently, she created music for several of her own interdisciplinary dance and film projects, including "Malleus Maleficarum" (2017), "The Immured Woman"(2018), "Shadow" (2020), and "Put the Devil Back In Hell."