Frank Ponzio, pianist and composer, has earned wide acclaim and admiration for the integrity, sensitivity, and passion of his playing. Regarded particularly for his transparent touch and eloquent performances, he has captivated audiences all across the United States. Frank has performed and collaborated with a variety of well-known artists, including Ben Vereen on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, David Amram, Phil Donahue, principal dancers from the Martha Graham Dance Company, Nancy LaMott, Baby Jane Dexter, Bob McGrath of Sesame Street, David Amram and Vic Juris. He performs solo concerts and leads his own bands at venues such as the legendary Birdland, the Algonquin Hotel, 21 Club, the Museum of Modern Art, St. Bartholomew’s Church, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and Town Hall.
   His first solo CD, Reflections of American Song, was released on the CAP record label. Honoring the great American standards, his signature interpretations transport you on a personal journey through this rich heritage, from George Gershwin and Duke Ellington to James Taylor and Stevie Wonder. Recent recordings include Each Time and So Blue, featuring vocalist Adele Zane, I Thought About You, featuring the vocalist Jan Prokop, Duo Piano Concert with Alex Wu, A Song about Forever, The Music of Kurt Weill, and Quando Swing, featuring the vocalist, Rosemary Loar. As a music director and composer Frank has worked on numerous productions, including shows at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Cooper-Hewitt Museum, and the Paramount Theater at Madison Square Garden. For two years he had been music director for Aisha Morris (Stevie Wonder’s daughter). He has also worked as vocal coach at the New School’s Actors Studio (1994-97), as well as the William Riley Studio whose students include Celine Dion, Faith Hill, and Stevie Wonder.
   As an educator, Frank has been especially active in the community, bringing music to both young audiences and senior citizens, as well as to groups with special needs. He has enjoyed a fifteen year-long association with the National Dance Institute, an innovative organization founded by Jacques d’Amboise that brings the benefits of the arts to children from all social and economic backgrounds. He was their full-time music director from 1991 to 1994. and has become very active in special projects. From 1989 to 1996 Frank performed regularly at a homeless shelter in New York, the Ittleson Center (for emotionally disturbed children), St. Francis School for the Deaf, The Lighthouse (a center for the blind in New York), and Martin Deporess School (for troubled children). From 1997 to 2005 he was the music teacher and dance accompanist for an innovative program for wheelchair-bound students and non-disabled students at PS 199 in New York. Currently he teaches piano, theory, song-writing, arranging and hand-drumming. As a composer and arranger, Frank is much in demand.
   He has created original scores for The Silver Swing, an independent film directed by Martha Parker, and for The New School's production of David Mamet’s radio play, The Water Engine. He has just finished the score for the feature film A Level Field. In television and radio, he has written music for Dunkin’ Donuts, Kmart, Exxon, and Campbell's Soup. In the spring of 2005, frank joined the Heidi Latsky Dance Company as Music Director. Heidi Latsky was a celebrated principal dancer for Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance (1987-1993) and is an internationally renowned choreographer as well as founding director of Heidi Latsky Dance. Shows include Club Riot, Disjointed, and a piece called 5 open mouths. Frank graduated from Indiana University, where he fell in love with jazz and studied with David Baker. Since moving to New York, he has continued his studies with Mike Longo, longtime music director for Dizzy Gillespie and worked, performed, and studied with the composer David Amram.