Lou Lanza

Lou Lanza is an Adjunct Faculty member at DeSales University's School of Performing Arts. A native of Philadelphia, he comes from a family deeply rooted in music, with a grandfather who was an opera singer, a father who was a classical violinist, and a mother who was a pianist, organist, and vocalist. His career transitioned from being a full-time musical theatre performer in New York to becoming a full-time musician, with jazz influences drawn from relatives like saxophonist Vince Trombetta.

• Background: Taught by notable figures such as Carlo Menotti and Jimmy Bruno
• Performance History: Lived performances in Philadelphia, New York, London, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas

Lanza is recognized as a leading jazz vocalist, named the top male jazz vocalist of 2004 in the Rio de Janeiro's Tribuna da Imprensa reader's poll for his album Opening Doors: A Jazz Tribute to The Doors. He is also listed among the top 500 jazz vocalists of all time by Scott Yanow in The Jazz Singers. His creative work includes the original jazz opera The Real Book of Gig, for which he co-wrote the lyrics and libretto with composer Tony Gairo.

Current projects include Tony Gairo and Lou Lanza: Live @ Musikfest, sacred works, and musical adaptations of William Shakespeare's sonnets and poetry. He has also music-directed and arranged two Off-Broadway shows.