Christian Di-Maccio

Christian DiMaccio was born in 1941 in Algiers to an Italian father and Spanish mother and he was already playing the accordion by age of three years old. He demonstrated an outstanding predisposition for music from his early years and at the age of six he could already sight ready and complete scores on his accordion. Christian competed in the CIA Coupe Mondiale in 1955 in Brighton - UK, 1957 in Saarbrucken - Germany where he placed 3rd and also in 1959 in New York where he also placed 3rd. He led a very successful musical life which included a performance for Igor Stravinsky who afterwards declared that "The accordion has found its genius at last!" Christian was considered by many to be "the accordionist of the century!" After emigrating to the USA in the late 60's, he soon attracted many successful composers into what would become lasting working partnerships. First with John Williams with whom he worked on the score to the film Home Alone and then Michel Legrand for the compositions of the Barbara Streisand Album. Christian appeared throughout the USA and during a tour of Canada Tommy Dorsey proposed that he should do the first part of the Frank Sinatra show at New York's Carnegie Hall. After spending time in Canada, Christian returned to Los Angeles where he gave many concerts and was involved in recording a number of film scores including Star Wars. Considered by the finest musicians on both sides of the Atlantic as the best technician of the accordion ever, Christian DiMaccio deployed his great sensitivity and his immense talent in the service of all forms of music.