Mazzeo, Rosario, 1911-1997

Biography

Rosario Mazzeo (Born: April 5, 1911, Pawtucket, Rhode Island - Died: July 19, 1997, Monterey, California)

Rosario Mazzeo was an internationally renowned clarinetist, musical educator, and accomplished photographer. In his earlier years he served as faculty at the New England Conservatory, where he was Chair of the Woodwind Department. He was also the Personnel Manager and bass clarinetist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra during this time.

As he grew older his life-long love of photography began to occupy more of his creative energy and blossomed into a note-worthy practice. His first solo exhibit was held at the Carl Siembab Gallery in Boston when he was 40 years old. Unknown to Mr. Mazzeo at the time Ansel Adams purchased three prints from this show. Shortly after this exhibition Mr. Mazzeo began correspondence with Edward Weston and began to travel every September to California to study with Mr. Weston and Ansel Adams. When he retired from the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1966 he moved to Carmel, CA with his wife Katie Clare Mazzeo. While living there he became very close with Mr. Adams, Mr. Weston and Mr. Weston's son Brett. During this time he continued to produce and exhibit his photography while also teaching at Stanford, and the University of California, Santa Cruz.

The combination of his musical career and a personal passion for travel took him to every continent except Antarctica. Most of the 14,000 negatives he made contain imagery derived from his extensive travels and an acute interest in both ornithology and the natural world.

His photographic work has been exhibited nationally at venues such as Princeton University, the Philadelphia Museum, and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

From the guide to the Rosario Mazzeo photographs, 1952-2006, (University of California, Santa Cruz. University Library. Special Collections and Archives)