Cynthia Giunta

Office Location: FAC 236
515-271-2832

Nationally acclaimed as an accompanist/collaborator, pianist Cynthia Giunta has performed on numerous college and university campuses throughout the United States, accompanying faculty and student recitals for over four decades. During this time, she has also built and maintained an active piano studio with an emphasis on private and group instruction for elementary through adult aged students. Many of her past students have gone on to attend some of the nation’s best music schools.

Since 1993, Cynthia has played with the Des Moines Symphony and been an accompanist for the music faculty and students at Drake University. She has accompanied hundreds of recitals in her tenure and is a Teaching Associate in Piano at the University.  In 2018 she also became the Director of the Drake University Community School of Music.

Cynthia Giunta collaborated on her first compact disc recording in June 2002 entitled Playing Through. David Shea from “The Clarinet” reviewed the CD saying the Gabaye Sonatinas “final movement is full of energy and drive where both clarinetist and pianist are solid technically and play with great flair”. Her second and third CD’s with clarinetist and colleague Clarence Padilla, With the Wind (2010) and In Play (2014) were also well received.

Cynthia was invited to perform and lecture on American Music at the United States Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela and continues to be a sought-after performer for numerous recitals throughout the Midwest. She has performed recitals with Des Moines Symphony trombonist Casey Maday, Jonathan Reycraft, trombonist with the St. Louis Symphony and Burt Hara, principal clarinetist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In June 2018, the Drake Faculty Trio (Ashley Sidon, cello, Clarence Padilla, clarinet and Cynthia, piano) debuted at the International Lyric Academy in Vicenza, Italy.

Ms. Giunta’s performances are often broadcast nationally on Public Radio and regionally on public access television.