Joseph Pucciatti

Conductor of The Symphonic Orchestra
 Joseph Pucciatti is a Trenton-born pianist, teacher, conductor, and composer. Co-Founder of Boheme Opera NJ with his wife Sandra, he is in his 35th season at the artistic helm of Boheme Opera. During his tenure, he has conducted multiple performances of 27 of the legendary works of the opera repertoire for the main stage

​In 2008, Joseph collaborated with former Artistic Director of American Repertory Ballet Graham Lustig in their critically acclaimed production of Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story. In 2009, he conducted the company debut of Gilbert and Sullivan with The Pirates of Penzance. In 2013, he directed and conducted the company’s debut of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, introducing HD technology to BONJ’s main stage via original artwork and animation created exclusively for Boheme by virtual master J. Matthew Root, who continues to imagine new virtual sets for the company.

He is a Recipient of the New Jersey Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award and has been honored as Entertainer of the Year by the Italian American National Hall of Fame. Host of Boheme Opera’s popular Pre-Curtain Talks for many years, Joseph just retired after 45 years as a career music teacher for the Trenton Board of Education. A staunch advocate of instrumental music in the public schools, he founded the Trenton Central High School Orchestra 29 years ago, which was nominated for an Educational Grammy in 2019.

In 2021, Joseph was the Recipient of the Community Engagement Award presented by Princeton University and The Pace Center for Civic Engagement.  In June 2023, he was honored by The Pace Center for Civic Engagement for outstanding service to the community as a music educator of extraordinary accomplishment and dedication, as they announced the Joseph Pucciatti Prize for Community Engagement in the Arts.  The Prize will be awarded annually to a graduating Princeton University senior whose love of community, artistic imagination, and passion for mentorship – all qualities embodied by Joseph – have expanded access to the arts.