Parenting Panel with Marco Di Stefano

Balancing creativity and caregiving is an art in itself. For Italian composer Marco Di Stefano, that balance has shaped not just his daily life but also the very sound of his work.

With his work spanning classical orchestration, folk colour and modern cinematic scoring into a distinctive style, Marco’s newest album Far Inside dives into intense human emotions through live orchestration and subtle electronic textures.

But behind the sweeping arrangements is a father who has navigated sleepless nights, school runs and the constant pull between composing and parenting.

Marco didn’t come to music through the usual route. He began as a metal guitarist before immersing himself in classical and media scoring, studying with contemporary European masters. That unusual path gives his writing an immediacy and edge, but it also means he’s had to carve out a creative life around family commitments. For Marco, family isn’t a footnote to his career - it is a central part of how he creates.

In this candid conversation, he opens up about the worries he had before becoming a parent, how those fears played out in real life, the routines that help him juggle family life with a demanding creative career, and why his son’s unfiltered feedback has become one of his most valued sources of inspiration.

His story is both reassuring and motivating for any musician wondering how to nurture their art while raising a family.

How many children do you have? And what are their names and ages?

I have one son, Edward, who is 14 years old.

Did you have fears or concerns about how becoming a parent would interfere with your artistic endeavors?

Like any significant life change, I had concerns about how parenthood might impact my artistic journey. However, family has always been a top priority for me, so I chose to approach this new experience with the confidence that I would find a way to balance both passions. My main concern was not having to give up my time for composing  .

Have those fears come true, or no?

I discovered that in the first few years, it was challenging to reconcile parenthood with growing my artistic career. I therefore chose to put composing on hold so I could dedicate myself 100% to my son. Those were wonderful years. To not lose my practice, I still made sure to find some time for music. When my son turned eight, I started to have more time, and since then, I've been back to composing at full speed.

How do you juggle your family and your career? Who’s your support system?

I have created a well-defined daily routine to effectively balance my work, music, and family life. For instance, every evening we watch a movie together after dinner - a moment we would never skip. I dedicate the late afternoon to music and often compose late at night before bed, as that's when I'm most productive. Having a solid routine is essential for me  

What’s one thing you wish someone had told you before you became a parent? Any advice for others?

I believe that parenthood is a personal journey of discovery that is best experienced without too much preconceived advice, by relying on your own instincts and experience. The only advice I feel I can give is to focus fully on your children. The time when they see you as the most important person in their lives is short, and those moments are the most precious.

Do your children inspire / inform your music?

My son is one of my most trusted listeners. He often listens to my music and gives me his opinion, which I greatly respect because it's completely natural. Being unfamiliar with music theory, his feedback is not influenced by preconceptions, which for me is a source of authentic inspiration.

Have you ever written a song for or about your kids? If so please share a description and a link.

Yes, I wrote a piano album inspired by the birth of the daughter of a dear friend of mine. The album is a tribute to the wonder and innocence of a new life:

Listen here:

Marco Di Stefano is a versatile composer who blends classical orchestration with modern scoring to create unique sonic identities for film and game projects. With a foundation in both metal and formal piano study, he brings a distinctive style that has been shaped by over a decade of intensive study with contemporary masters and recently graduated from the European Academy of Fine Arts’ media scoring program.

Marco has 20 years of experience as an IT architect, applying a structured mindset to his compositions. Having commanded orchestras for his own recordings, he offers comprehensive end-to-end production capabilities, from the first sketch to the final mix and master.

Listen to Far Inside here:

 Find out more about Marco Di Stefano on his Website