The Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra (GPYO) is proud to celebrate the 100th birthday of its esteemed founder, Maestro Matteo Giammario. A visionary in music education and performance, Maestro Giammario's legacy continues to inspire generations of young musicians.

Born in Trenton, NJ, to Italian immigrant parents from the Puglia region, Matteo Giammario developed a deep love for music early on, influenced by the Neapolitan melodies of his Little Italy neighborhood. While he initially aspired to play the guitar in local ensembles, his mother encouraged him to take up the violin—a decision that sparked a lifelong passion for music education and orchestral performance.