performance
From an original album to cover songs at the classroom piano
Conducting, bespoke arrangements, a little bit of everything
Hurt of It
Love & perseverance collide in a raw, relentless anthem of survival through heartbreak. Immersive vocals & rich instrumentation reminiscent of Johnny Cash’s American Recordings help Craig deliver a soul-stirring performance evoking the weight of love’s battles & victories. Shades of Rufus Wainwright & Glen Hansard meet the grit of Chris Stapleton, creating a timeless ballad for those who’ve endured the worst & are still standing.
Comeback year
MY FIRST STUDIO ALBUM: SPRING 2025
ONE LAST NIGHT
What loves and losses haunt you? What could have been? Piano & guitar swirl in a velvety haze under earnest & mournful vocals. Take a slow, hauntingly romantic dance through the heart-wrenching duet of cello & theremin – a sound mixing the melancholy of Rufus Wainwright & Orville Peck with the uniqueness of FINNEAS or Tom Waits.
MILESTONES
Immerse yourself in an evocative collaboration where legends meet modern icons. Producer & cellist Nick Anton, pedal steel guitarist Dan Iead (Norah Jones) & Michael Carmine DiBianco join Craig Klonowski’s 3rd single, “Milestones”, blending the timeless melancholy of Jackson Browne & Rufus Wainwright with the contemporary sounds of Orville Peck & Faye Webster.
BACK HOME
After a long day of teaching middle school orchestra, playing bass with the UN symphony or walking his bull terriers, just as New York City falls still, Craig Klonowski sits in silence as his thoughts journey deep into his past. "Back Home" is a journey through the loss, heartbreak and pain of coming out, the longing ache for a home that maybe never existed. Acoustic folk melodies, piano, strings & soaring guitar take the listener on a journey back to Craig's experience.
COMEBACK YEAR
There's something about the darkness after midnight, when the veil between memories & truth is thinnest, something that opens a door to new, hidden truths. That's when I craft my music: the late hours, when memories & reality blur. My debut single, "Comeback Year," captures this mysterious vibe, guiding you through a journey of deep reflection, heartbreak, and ultimately, hope.
cover songs
(ON A MIDDLE SCHOOL PIANO)
Galactica String QUintet
“SO PLAY WE ALL”
Born as a gift for my best friend’s wedding, from classical standards to jazz and rock arrangements, the Galactica Quintet is prepared to provide the soundtrack to your event. ( more samples available on the Composition + Arranging page)
SCHOOL CONCERTS
FROM MY LIFE AS A TEACHER
The Elephant by Camille Saint-Saens
Those Were the Days
Over the Rainbow from by Arlen & Harberg
Lili Marlene