Michael James Lazzaro

Michael Lazzaro, 63, passed away on January 5, 2019, following a valiant battle with cancer. Michael was born in Houston, TX, on August 20, 1955, the youngest son of John and Camilla Lazzaro. He attended Annunciation Grade School, St. Thomas High School and Sacred Heart Dominican College. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

With the heart and craft of a performing artist, Michael’s music career spanned 50 years as he pursued his life’s passion for classical music. For the past 30 years Michael was the Principal Pianist and Music Director for The HARID Conservatory, a nationally distinguished academy for classical dance in Boca Raton, Florida. Besides performing as accompanist to the dancers, his joy was to pass along an elemental learning of music, expressing the core of how music can touch the human spirit. He was also a proud member of the famed Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church Choir – performing with them was very dear to his heart!

Ever appreciative of his Italian heritage, Michael’s second passion was gourmet cooking. He made all the family recipes and dishes, and later enjoyed experimenting with Chinese and Indian cuisine. Michael will always be remembered for his wit, laughter and insatiable appetite for every form of artistry.

Michael was preceded in death by his beloved parents, John and Camilla Lazzaro; his Nana and PawPaw, Rosie and Steve Boss; his Lazzaro grandparents, Anna and John; his Godparents, Sam and Vita Boss; and his Boss and Lazzaro aunts and uncles. He is survived by his sister, Virginia Moore and her husband, Don; his nephew John Moore, and his wife, Kimberlee and their children, Madelyn, Zoey, Arman and Vivienne; his nephew, Frank Moore, and his wife, Summer, and their daughter, Iris; and by his brother, Stephen John Lazzaro and his wife, Marita; his niece, Marie Lazzaro, and her husband, Nigel O’Rourke; his nephew Nicholas Lazzaro, and his wife, Jane; and his niece Christine Lazzaro; and by his Boss and Lazzaro cousins.

A funeral service will be held on Sat, Jan 19 at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home. The visitation will be at 9:30 AM, the service at 10:30 AM, with burial to follow.

A few things you may not have known about our beloved Maestro…

Michael began his musical studies at the age of seven and his phenomenal progress ensured he was hired as a church organist at the tender age of ten.

His honors at the Cleveland Institute of Music included the William Kurzban Prize in Piano and election to the Pi Kappa Lambda Musical Honor Society.

Upon graduation, he was appointed to the piano teaching faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Preparatory Division.

Michael has performed as piano accompanist with the Cleveland Ballet, the Houston Ballet and the Houston Grand Opera.

Michael was a founding faculty member of The HARID Conservatory and a firm believer that dance was the physical expression of music.

He made his conducting debut in April 1993 in a critically acclaimed performance given by The HARID Conservatory at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

And above all, he loved his students.