The sound of the 30th Summer Universiade

NAPOLI – He has won awards in Paris and Hollywood, orchestrated classical concerts and collaborated on animation movies, but few creations have made Neapolitan composer Stefano Gargiulo prouder than the theme song of the 30^th Summer Universiade, .

Despite his enviable reputation in the music industry, it was the 38-year-old who approached the organizing committee of Napoli 2019, not the other way around.

“I pitched the idea to the organizing committee and I was hoping it would be accepted. Dr. Annapaola Voto first asked me to write a song for the special events of the Universiade. It was meant to be for the welcoming ceremony of the athletes. Then, the head of sport presentation, Yorgos Makrydakis, was looking for a fanfare for the medal ceremonies. He heard Glory and asked me if I could adapt it for medal presentations. After a few days working in the studio following his guidelines, the fanfare version of Glory was born.

“What an honour to have my music played during this huge moment for athletes.”

The song heard around the world for the past two weeks is the result of a collaboration between Gargiulo and singers Andrea Cavallaro and Giovanni Marigliano.

“I composed and orchestrated the music, while Andrea and Giovanni wrote the lyrics. Glory is meant to reflect the redemption of life through sport. It’ an hymn to freedom, to always trying your best in life, to have the strength to rise again when you suffer setbacks.

“It was launched in Lausanne at the lighting of the Torch Relay. Again, what an honour! And now, it will be played one last time for athletes and the FISU family at the closing ceremony at San Paolo Stadium. I almost have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.”

Gargiulo’s successful career has seen him work on countless and varied projects. To name only a few, he composed the music for a theater show in Turin, wrote a symphony for Bruegel’s parable of the Blind Leading the Blind commissioned by the Museum of Capodimonte, created music for TV commercials (like Jaked with Federica Pellegrini), produced soundtracks for Los Angeles-based animation company Creative Capers Entertainment, and even created the soundtrack for a video game, Unknown Fate.

His work has earned him recognition from the likes of the Los Angeles Music Awards, Hollywood Music in Media Awards, Paris Art Movie Awards and Chandler Film Awards.

Despite all his success and prestigious accolades, Napoli 2019 will forever hold a special place in Gargiulo’s heart.

“Glory has made me, if I can say with much humility, a little famous. A lot of people sing it, athletes are dancing to it, it makes people happy. A lot of people who know me compliment me, people write and encourage me on social networks. It’s a great time for me.

“I know that, with the song being linked to the Universiade, the interest will slowly fade once the Games are over. But I hope it will always be in athletes’ memories. It will definitely always be in my heart. I’m happy because it was a faithful companion of this important event. A real love, like the Universiade as Giulietta and Glory as Romeo.”