Keith Gates: Music

Arturo Ciompi was born into the world of music. Son of internationally famous violinist Giorgio Ciompi, he became a classical clarinetist and conductor. His career includes performing with Orpheus, Sylvan Winds, American Symphony and the New York City Opera Orchestra. He performed at the Caramoor, Kneisel Hall and Chamber Music Northwest festivals. His teaching career took place at The State University of NewYork at Albany, Princeton and Duke Universities. In 1984 Arturo changed careers and followed his long time avocation of wine. He worked as a retail wine manager from 1984-97. (During this period he had a wine spot on National Public Radio that ran for two years.) Upon retirement from retail, he began wrote a wine column for the Durham Herald-Sun newspaper from 1997-2003. He then moved to the Independent Weekly in order to write longer, more informative stories-which he continues to do. In 2004, Arturo won first prize from the Association of Food Journalists in recognition of his wine articles. He now combines writing with teaching the clarinet, practicing furiously and playing public concerts with more regularity.