Biography

A New England native, Nicco Centofanti does not consider himself a guitarist, but rather a musician who plays the guitar. Initially influenced by classic rock and blues, Centofanti’s musical horizons have expanded far beyond rock and its sub-genres since his adolescence. He soon began devouring as much music as he could get his hands on, becoming engrossed in the worlds of Jazz, R&B, classical (both standard practice and 20th-century/contemporary), Electronic (both dance and art music), and music from around the world. Centofanti does not believe in genre or that one style of music is more valid than another. When asked to name his most significant influence on the guitar, he is just as likely to name figures such as Ravel, Duke Ellington, or Flying Lotus as he is to name an actual guitarist! Nicco has performed at many prestigious venues, including Times Square, the Boston House of Blues, Brighton Music Hall, and Faneuil Hall.

In addition to playing in various ensembles in high school, Centofanti was a member of the school’s big band, which performed approximately 100 concerts per year in multiple venues, including Disney World. After high school, he enrolled at the University of Vermont as an Honors College Scholar, focusing on Physics and Jazz Studies. During this time, he studied all genres of music and studied with Berklee alumnus Joseph Capps and Grammy winner Ray Vega. Centofanti graduated summa cum laude from the prestigious Berklee College of Music with his degree in Professional Music, where he studied with renowned musicians Ray Vega, Jason Palmer, and John Wheatley, among others. He plans to continue working towards his Master’s degree. Centofanti continues to be active both as a performer and as a teacher; he plays in, directs, and mentors various ensembles, as well as teaching guitar and bass.

Coming from a big Italian family, Centofanti figured early on that music would be an excellent outlet for his boisterous and energetic personality. Always fascinated by it, he picked up the guitar at 15 and has not stopped since. He leads numerous bands, ranging from jazz trios and progressive rock quintets to acts such as EP=NC^2, a duo that makes up all the songs on the spot based on audience participation.

When not playing in and leading his groups, Centofanti is also the musical director and bandleader for Wil Darcangelo and the Tribe, the world’s first social enterprise rock band and afterschool/summer program that mentors young artists of all ages and gives them an avenue to experience music and creativity, as well as develop their talents. When he isn’t doing this, he enjoys hiking outdoors with his dog, Bruno, spending time with his brothers, and engaging in other activities that children of the early 90s find entertaining.

Nicco began teaching in 2008 and joined Noteworthy Experiences in November 2015, where he teaches online lessons.