Ferrata, Giuseppe, 1865-1928

Giuseppe Ferrata (1865–1928) was an Italian-American pianist, composer, and university professor. He was a student of Giovanni Sgambati and Franz Liszt at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (English: National Academy of Saint Cecilia) in Rome, Italy. Ferrata was knighted by the Royal Court of Portugal, the Royal Court of Belgium, and the King of Italy. Although Ferrata was productive in his early career in Italy, his most notable contributions occurred following his emigration to the United States, especially his time as a professor at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. His opera "Il Fuoruscito" (English: "The Outcast") won accolades including a significant financial award as part of the Sonzogna Prize. Ferrata composed for two different audiences. Some of his works were composed for their popular appeal. Other compositions were intended to advance orchestral music as a musical art form, for audiences that were musicians, other composers, and people with deep appreciation of orchestral music. Ferrata was also an inventor, having obtained three United States Patents.