Franco Basili, M.M.

About

Franco Basili is an Instructor of Music and Director of Choirs at California Lutheran University. Born and raised in Argentina, he completed his Doctorate in Musical Arts at the University of Houston under the guidance of Dr. Betsy Cook Weber, his Master of Music in Choral Pedagogy at Carthage College under the tutelage of Rick Bjella and Dr. Eduardo García-Novelli, and his Bachelor’s degrees in Choral Conducting and Piano Pedagogy at the Conservatorio de Música “Isaías Orbe” (Tandil, Argentina) under the instruction of Pablo Banchi and Miguel Ángel Pesce. Before moving to the United States, Franco worked as Artistic Director of the Chamber Choir of the National University of Mar del Plata, Director of Laprida’s Children Choir, and Assistant Conductor of the Coro Estable de Tandil. As a singer, he has performed with the World Youth Choir in the summer sessions of 2016, 2018, and 2024, respectively, the award-winning Carthage Choir, and the award-winning University of Houston Concert Chorale. He was also involved with the Houston Chamber Choir as a choral conductor intern during the 2023-2024 season and the Houston Symphony Chorus as a rehearsal conductor for the 2022-2023 season. Before moving to California, he was the director of the Chancel Choir at Grace Presbyterian Church in Houston, and the Director of the University Chorus at the University of Houston.

Education

Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting - University of Houston, Houston, TX (2025)

Master’s in Music in Choral Pedagogy - Carthage College, Kenosha, WI (2022)

Bachelors in Music (Piano Pedagogy) - Conservatorio de Música Isaías Orbe, Tandil, Argentina (2020)

Bachelors in Music (Choral Conducting) - Conservatorio de Música Isaías Orbe, Tandil, Argentina (2014)

Publications

 “La importancia del estudio y la marcación de la partitura coral.” (The Importance of Study and Markings of the Choral Score) Anuario ADICORA 19 (December 2023): 16–26.