Salvatore Macchia is a Professor of Composition and Contrabass at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. As a contrabass soloist he has given recitals all throughout America and at important European festivals. He has been a member of the Ancora Chamber Ensemble and the Duo Cambiata, groups which frequently cross the borders between written and improvised music. Mr. Macchia has composed in virtually every genre, including symphonic, opera, ballet and a large amount of solo and chamber music. His chamber opera “Insectaphobia or Bug Off” recently received its world premiere at the NEWMUSIC@ECU 2013 festival.