Ava Della Pietra
{{Short description|American entertainer}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Ava Della Pietra
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2005|05|31}}
| birth_place = New York
| genre = Pop
| occupation = singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actress
| instrument = guitar, piano, bass, violin, and ukulele
| website = {{URL|https://www.avadellapietra.com/}}
}}
Ava Della Pietra is an American singer-songwriter, stage actress, and multi-instrumentalist.
Early life and education
Della Pietra was born in New York. She began performing at age four and writing songs at age five. She is self-taught on the violin, guitar, piano and bass guitar.{{cite journal |title=AVA DELLA PIETRA |journal=360 Magazine |date=2019 |url=https://www.the360mag.com/ava-della-pietra/}}{{cite web |last1=Rabinowitz |first1=Chloe |title=Ava Della Pietra Revisits Her Holiday Classic 'Christmas Tonight' |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Ava-Della-Pietra-Revisits-Her-Holiday-Classic-Christmas-Tonight-20231222 |website=broadwayworld.com |publisher=Broadway World |access-date=22 December 2023}} Della Pietra is enrolled in the Harvard University/Berklee School of Music dual program, class of 2027.{{cite web |last1=Kawashima |first1=Dale |title=Ava Della Pietra's "Worst Of Times" Named September "Best Song Of The Month" |url=https://www.songwriteruniverse.com/ava-della-pietra-worst-of-times-242.htm |website=Songwriters Universe |date=8 September 2023 |publisher=Songwriter Universe Magazine |access-date=8 September 2023}}
Career
At age 7, Pietra performed on the national tours of Les Misérables and White Christmas before joining the original Broadway cast of School of Rock.{{cite journal |title=Ava Della Pietra PERFORMER |journal=Playbill |date=May 2017 |url=https://www.playbill.com/person/ava-della-pietra-vault-0000126849}} She has been featured on Good Morning America, Sesame Street,{{cite web |title=Special Episode: Interview with Ava Della Pietra and Behind the Scenes at Sesame Street |url=https://teengirltalk.podbean.com/e/special-episode-interview-with-ava-della-pietra-and-behind-the-scenes-at-sesame-street/ |website=teengirltalk.podbean.com |publisher=Teen Girl Talk |access-date=20 January 2022}} the Tony Awards and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.{{cite news |last1=Storm |first1=Grissom |title=Della Pietra Releases Optimist |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YG6Fu5oFsUQ |agency=News 12 |publisher=YouTube}}
In 2019, Della Pietra launched her solo music career with "Christmas Tonight," which she wrote with producing partner Will Hicks. The song was named one of Tiger Beat's "Best Holiday Songs of 2019"{{cite web |last1=Rabinowitz |first1=Chloe |title=SCHOOL OF ROCK's Ava Della Pietra Releases New Single 'Optimist' |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/SCHOOL-OF-ROCKs-Ava-Della-Pietra-Releases-New-Single-Optimist-20200612 |website=www.broadwayworld.com |publisher=Broadway World |access-date=12 June 2020}} and 360 Magazine called it "a beautiful and uplifting new song about the magic of the holiday season".
Della Pietra's 2020 single "Optimist" earned praise from American Songwriter Magazine, who called it "bold," "refreshing," and "radio-ready".{{cite journal |last1=Grunenberg |first1=Kira |title=Ava Della Pietra Faces the Future With an Open Heart as an Optimist |journal=American Songwriter |date=2020 |url=https://americansongwriter.com/optimist-song-by-ava-della-pietra/}} and Newsday, who cited Della Pietra a "rising star".{{cite news |last1=Bubbeo |first1=Daniel |title=Reaching Impressive Stages of their Careers |url=https://ibb.co/d0xBjb9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603042732/https://ibb.co/d0xBjb9 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=June 3, 2021 |access-date=15 October 2019 |publisher=Newsday}}
In 2020 Della Pietra sang the Star-Spangled Banner for the New York Open at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum{{cite news |last1=Esposito |first1=Nick |title=Stony Brook's Ava Della Pietra to perform national anthem at New York Open |url=https://greaterlongisland.com/stony-brooks-ava-della-pietra-to-perform-national-anthem-at-new-york-open/ |access-date=14 February 2020 |publisher=Greater Long Island}}
Ava released the single Home in 2021.{{cite web |last1=Lieber |first1=Sarah Jae |title=Ava Della Pietra Releases 'Home' Single |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Ava-Della-Pietra-Releases-Home-Single-20210409 |website=www.broadwayworld.com |publisher=Broadway World |access-date=9 April 2021}} Parade called the track "a pop ray of hope".{{cite journal |last1=Whitmore |first1=Laurie B. |title=Inspiring and Empowering! Ava Della Pietra's Poignant 'Home' Is a Pop Ray of Hope |journal=Parade |date=8 April 2021 |url=https://parade.com/1191520/laurawhitmore/ava-della-pietra-home-single/}}
i've been thinking was the first single off of Della Pietra's 2022 debut EP truth or truth, a collaboration with Nashville based producer Steven Martinez.{{cite web |title=Ava Della Pietra Talks About Her Upcoming EP |url=https://pop-culturalist.com/exclusive-interview-ava-della-pietra-talks-about-her-upcoming-ep/ |website=pop-culturalist.com |date=17 March 2022 |publisher=Pop Culturalist |access-date=17 March 2022}} She performed power of you, another single from the album on WSMV's Today in Nashville.{{cite news |title=Ava Della Pietra Performs "power of you" |url=https://www.wsmv.com/video/2022/04/07/ava-della-pietra-performs-power-you/ |publisher=WSMV4 |date=7 April 2022}}
In 2023 Della Pietra released several singles including happy for you,{{cite web |last1=Radic |first1=Randy |title=Ava Della Pietra Releases Captivating "happy for you" |url=https://guitargirlmag.com/featured/ava-della-pietra-releases-captivating-happy-for-you/ |website=guitargirlmag.com |date=9 February 2023 |publisher=Guitar Girl Magazine |access-date=9 February 2023}} it started with u{{cite web |last1=Gonda |first1=Christopher |title=Ava Della Pietra Unveils Her Anthemic New ballad, "it started with u" |url=https://v13.net/2023/05/ava-della-pietra-unveils-her-anthemic-new-ballad-it-started-with-u/ |website=V13.net |date=12 May 2023 |publisher=V13 |access-date=12 May 2023}} and ego.{{cite web |last1=Loewen |first1=Josh |title=Ava Della Pietra releases new single "Ego" |url=https://earmilk.com/2023/09/15/ava-della-pietra-releases-new-single-ego/ |website=earmilk.com |date=15 September 2023 |publisher=Earmilk |access-date=15 September 2023}} ego earned her the top prize at the Songwriters Guild of America SGA Awards Pop Song contest{{cite web |title=WINNER POP CONTEST AVA DELLA PIETRA |url=https://awards.songwritersguild.com/index.php/contests/pop-music |website=songwritersguild.com |publisher=Songwriters Guild of America |date=September 2023}} and a Los Angeles Film Award for Best Song.{{cite web |date=November 2023 |title=LAFA Winners - November 2023 |url=https://www.lafilmawards.net/single-post/november-2023 |website=lafilmawards.net |publisher=LA Film Awards}} The video, directed by Adam Lukowski, won Best Video of 2023 awards from the Sweden Film Awards, New York International Film Awards, Berlin Indie Film Festival, London Independent Film Awards, Los Angeles International Film Festival's Indie Short Fest and the Rome International Movie Awards. A follow up single, talk it out was released shortly after.{{cite web |last1=Sterdan |first1=Darryl |title=Ava Della Pietra Just Wants To Talk It Out |url=https://tinnitist.com/2023/11/10/ava-della-pietra-just-wants-to-talk-it-out/ |website=tinnitist.com |date=10 November 2023 |publisher=Tinnitist |access-date=11 November 2023}}
Della Pietra's 2025 single Marionette appears to be a move towards growth and reinvention. In The Hollywood Digest, Garth Thomas wrote, "Marionette is a powerful testament to her artistic growth and ability to blend theatricality with contemporary pop sensibilities.{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Garth |title=Ava Della Pietra Drops “Marionette” |url=https://thehollywooddigest.com/ava-della-pietra-drops-marionette/ |website=thehollywooddigest.com |publisher=The Hollywood Digest |access-date=1 March 2025}} Music News said, "On Marionette, Ava steps into a new creative dimension - one that is darker, eerier, and unafraid to explore the haunting corners of control and manipulation."{{cite web |title=musicnews.com |url=https://www.music-news.com/news/Underground/180137/Ava-Della-Pietra-s-Marionette-ushers-in-a-darkly-mesmerizing-new-era |publisher=Music News |access-date=1 March 2025}} And Stage Magazine pointed out that Della Pietra is, "a pop star who refuses to play it safe".{{cite web |last1=Galasso |first1=Keith |title=Ava Della Pietra Just Dropped The Gothic Banger You Didn't Know you Needed |url=https://onstagemagazine.com/ava-della-pietra-just-dropped-the-gothic-banger-you-didnt-know-you-needed/ |website=onstagemagazine.com |publisher=On Stage Magazine |access-date=28 February 2025}}
Discography
= Singles =
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Song ! scope="col"| Chart |
| 2019
|Christmas Tonight |
| 2020
|Optimist |
| 2021
|Home |
| rowspan="5"|2022
|power of you |#21 AC Billboard Radio Chart |
| depend on me |
| long way home |
| my boyfriend |
| i've been thinking |
| rowspan="5"|2023
|it started with u |
| happy for u
|#31 AC Hot Chart |
| worst of times |
| ego |
| talk it out |
| rowspan="3"|2024
|sick |
| rearview mirror |
| Reindeer Rebellion |
| 2025
|Marionette |
= EP's =
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Chart |
| 2022
|truth or truth |
Awards and honors
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Award ! scope="col"| Category !Work !Result !Ref |
| 2016
|The Fred & Adele Astaire Awards |Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show |School of Rock |{{nom}} | |
| rowspan="2"|2019
|Scholastic Art & Writing Award |Gold Key for Excellence in Writing | | | |
| Mid-Atlantic Song Contest
|Best Song |"Christmas Tonight" | | |
| rowspan="2"|2020
|Scholastic Art & Writing Award |Gold Key for Excellence in Writing | | | |
| West Coast Songwriter Competition
|Best Song | rowspan="2" |"Optimist" | | |
| rowspan="2"|2021
|New York State School Music Association Songwriters Showcase |Best Song | |
| The New York Young Performers Prize
|Second Prize, Advanced Level | | | |
| rowspan="1"|2022
|Songwriter Universe |Best Song |"depend on me" | | |
| rowspan="6"|2023
|Unsigned Only |Best Song |"happy for you" | | |
| Songwriter Universe
|Best Song |"worst of times} | | |
| Songwriter's Guild of America
|Best Song | rowspan="4" |"ego" |{{won}} |
| Los Angeles Film Awards
|Best Song |{{won}} |
| Music Video Awards
|Best Song | | |
| International Independent Film Awards
|Best Song | | |
| 2024
|UK Songwriting Contest |Best Christmas Song |Reindeer Rebellion |{{won}} |
References
{{reflist}}
Category:Musicians from New York (state)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pietra, Ava Della}}