JOHN TAFONE is an award-winning, internationally-performed composer, born and raised in southern Rhode Island. Having studied composition at the Catholic University of America and Oxford University in the UK, John's music has been performed by numerous ensembles including:
The Washington National Symphonic Brass, The Chorus of Westerly, The American Band, The Rhode Island Festival and Pops Orchestras, and by members of The Boston Pops, The Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, The Hartford Symphony, The Ocean State Pops Orchestra, The Rhode Island Philharmonic, The Phoenix Symphony, The National Symphony, The New York Pops, The United States Marine Band, The United States Navy Band, and The United States Coast Guard Band. 
His work has been performed at Synetic Theatre, Christ Church Cathedral (UK), The CenterStage Theater Company, The United Theatre, The National Basilica, The Kennedy Center (Washington DC), St. Patrick's Cathedral, The Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul, and at The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF). His work has also been featured on NPR and PBS.

 

Praised for his unique blend of intellectual and accessible styles, John's music has a timeless yet fresh sound. John was awarded the top prize in the College Music Society’s annual composer competition (Mid Atlantic), and his musical "The Count of Monte Cristo" won the 2017 BroadwayWorld Award for Best Musical.

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John serves as the Director of Creative Development and Head Composer for Starting Gate Theatrical, as well as the orchestrator and arranger for the Chorus of Westerly. He currently has two commercial musicals in development in addition to an upcoming Off-Broadway musical entitled Magic in Music.