Music Faculty

In 2018, Mr. Nicholas Pignataro joined the faculty of Strath Haven High School where he teaches music and directs the Symphony Orchestra, String Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band and Panther Marching Band. Before joining the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, Mr. Pignataro taught in the Penn-Delco School District and at St. Hilary of Poitiers School. In 2018, he was recognized with the Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union Excellence in Teaching Award, and in 2015, he received the Professional Hero Award from the Delaware County Right to Education Task Force for his work with students with special needs. Mr. Pignataro values technology as a teaching tool and became a Google Level 2 Certified Educator in 2020.

Nick Pignataro joined the Young Musicians’ Orchestra as Music Director and Conductor in 2015. He has appeared as a conductor with Bravo Brass for five seasons and has acted as rehearsal conductor for the Drexel University Concert Band, the Drexel Orchestra, the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County Philharmonia and the Atlantic Brass Band. He served as the music director at St. Anne Church for their neighborhood classical music concert series “Music at St. Anne’s.”

In the world of theater, he has led performances at the Player’s Club of Swarthmore, the Sun Valley High School Theatre, and has served as music director for Cardinal O’Hara High School Theater and Upper Darby Summer Stage Children’s Theater.

Mr. Pignataro studied conducting with Paul Bryan of the Curtis Institute of Music and with Joseph Caminiti in West Chester University, where he earned a Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting in 2018. He graduated from Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance in 2011 with a degree in Music Education. At Temple, he studied trumpet with Eric Schweingruber and Roger Blackburn of The Philadelphia Orchestra. He has returned to Temple University in pursuit of a Master of Music Education degree. Mr. Pignataro, his wife Allie, and their dog Sybil, live in Delaware County where they enjoy cooking, taking trips to the beach, and throwing the frisbee in the backyard.