Musical chair

Like many South Philadelphians, Anthony Pirollo spent time at the Jersey Shore this summer. Unlike others, however, he never got to the beach. "No beach time at all — not even once," he says.

But he’s not complaining. Instead of beachcombing, he was making music, which is far more important to him.

As a member of the Ocean City Pops, Pirollo performed in a series of summer concerts, which are a popular local tradition.

During the peak summer months, the musicians presented three evening concerts each week, with a rehearsal the same day as the show. Immediately afterwards, Pirollo drove home to Pennsport so he could pursue his other musical activities.

"Total insanity" is the way he describes his schedule in July and August. But the 47-year-old musician thrives on multiple challenges. Besides his role as a cellist with the Ocean City Pops and other groups, he’s also a composer who most recently created the score for a new dance piece by choreographer Melanie Stewart.

Then, too, Pirollo is an assistant music director for the Bel Canto Opera Company. Literally translated as "beautiful singing," bel canto describes the light, flowing tone of Italian opera.

As a freelance cellist, Pirollo has performed in venues from Atlantic City casinos to Philadelphia theaters, where he plays with orchestras that provide music for major shows.

This is indeed a life with many strings attached — many musical strings, in fact.

"I like as many different things flying at me as possible," Pirollo says. "It makes me a bit crazy, but it’s interesting and it keeps me on my toes."

That’s certainly true of his work with the Ocean City Pops. As principal cellist, Pirollo had several solos this summer. Recently, in a concert of British music, he played a difficult new solo — and didn’t see the music until the day of the concert.

"It was trial by fire," the musician says.

Working with choreographer Stewart was another challenge he faced this summer. As Stewart created the dance steps, Pirollo composed the score for her work, Babel, which premiered last week at the Philadelphia Live Arts/Philly Fringe Festival.

Pirollo not only composed the score for cello and percussion, but also played the cello part during performances. Preparing for this 12-minute dance piece took three months of intensive work.

The successful collaboration between musician and choreographer dates back 10 years.

"I have absolute artistic control and freedom, with no compromises, which is so rare," Pirollo says.

Pirollo has arrived at this interview straight from a six-hour rehearsal stint with Stewart and her dancers, and enters Starbucks carrying his cello. It’s late afternoon on a Friday, and he has had a typically busy week, alternating between dance rehearsals and Ocean City trips, and giving private cello lessons one day a week.

But Pirollo is a high-energy type who shows no sign of fatigue.

He first began composing 12 years ago when he was helping to plan a memorial concert in honor of a close friend and musical colleague. Alfonso Cavaliere, a South Philly native, was a violinist and conductor who died at age 63.

Cavaliere’s sister, Giovanna, also a South Philadelphian, asked Pirollo for his input for the concert. At first, she thought of a string quartet. But the ambitious Pirollo ended up recruiting 20 singers and 40 musicians, all as volunteers.

To honor his friend, the musician gamely decided to try his skill at composing, even though he’d never done it before.

Alfonso’s Lament, written for cello and orchestra, was well received by the audience of 500. The concert, which raised money for a scholarship for young musicians, became an annual event. This year, it will take place Nov. 14, 4 p.m., at Ss. John Neumann-Maria Goretti High School, 10th and Moore streets. Pirollo will be part of the orchestra of 40 musicians, and he’ll probably conduct as well.

The musicians are members of the Bel Canto Opera Company, for which Pirollo serves as assistant musical director.

As an admirer of the bel canto style of singing, he cofounded the group.

"It’s a beautiful but neglected type of singing, and we’re trying to maintain the integrity of the art form," he says.

The group presents five to eight concerts each season. The next one will be Oct. 9 at Dante Hall, the new performing-arts venue in Atlantic City. The group will present an all-Italian program in honor of Columbus Day weekend, just as it did last year.

Pirollo has played at other venues at the Jersey Shore, including every Atlantic City casino. As part of a string section, he has accompanied Johnny Mathis, Smokey Robinson and other headliners.

He also backs up musicians in another capacity: Pirollo is now in his second three-year term as president of the Atlantic City Musicians Union. As head of the 350-member group, he has walked picket lines, sat at negotiating tables and provided support to other unions.

"It’s very satisfying to try to restore the dignity of the American worker, including musicians," says Pirollo, adding his union has helped save several hundred jobs.

Pirollo got his start playing the cello — back in third grade — for practical reasons, he reveals.

"They gave me lessons to keep me out of trouble," he says.

Then, at South Philadelphia High, he played in the school orchestra, and later attended the Philadelphia Musical Academy, now the University of the Arts.

Pirollo’s first job as a professional musician was in a string section of three cellists who accompanied Frank Sinatra at the Latin Casino in l976.

He’s been on the move ever since.

"I never wanted to stay in one place too long," he says. "I love having many activities. It gives me the opportunity to be creative and stimulated."

Of course, his busy life doesn’t leave much time for leisure. Having had no vacation this summer, he’s hoping to spend five days in Italy next month.

"In Rome, I’ll drink espresso and chill out," says Pirollo, who tries to visit twice a year. His grandparents were born in Italy and his mother speaks fluent Italian.

Pirollo, who is divorced, was an only child and remains a devoted son.

When his late father, Anthony Sr., was suffering from stomach cancer and was bedridden, he helped care for him. And when his father was a hospice patient at St. Agnes Medical Center for the last few weeks of his life, Pirollo moved in with him.

Now he’s just as attentive to his mother, Celeste, who has a blood and heart disorder and requires a 24-hour oxygen machine.

"I want to take care of her myself," he says, adding that is why he never stays overnight in Ocean City, even when he has two consecutive concerts.

Pirollo balances those obligations just as well as his musical responsibilities.

"Music is how I live my life," he reflects. "It’s not separate. I live my life through what I play and what I create. My music reflects myself."