Cristiano Bilanzola

Cristiano Bilanzola (May 23, 1983) is a proud Canadian musician and assistant director. He has been in several bands including In-Tense, Heist and Bilanzola, a self named project. These bands have spawned a Canadian and American following that have been with Cristiano and have transcended his various projects. A former member of D.S. & Associates, Cristiano continues his work as his fans await the fruitions of a new project under the Bilanzola name.
Early life
Cristiano was born on May 23, 1983 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario, the only child born to Ferdinando "Fred" Bilanzola (1956-2001) and his wife Denise (née Brill; 1957). Fred, whose parents were of Italian origin, was a high school film and visual arts teacher(). After Cristiano's birth, Fred, who was an active member of the Hamilton arts scene, decided to go back to school to become a teacher to make a better life for Cristiano ().
At an early age Cristiano had a strong interest in film and the music therein. Amongst his favorites as a child were Federico Fellini and the music of Nino Rota. As a result, Cristiano embraced his Italian heritage.
Cristiano began playing the piano at the age of six and quickly learned to play simple pieces by reading music and memorizing musical patterns. As he grew Cristiano learned the guitar. His first was a Yamaha F-310 acoustic guitar. He transposed what he knew of piano and soon began playing with confidence. Later, while attending St. Paul High School in Niagara Falls, Ontario (), Cristiano received his father's bass guitar, an old Fender ripoff. The flatwounds from 20 years prior are still on the bass guitar to this day. He then received a Mexican Fender Stratocaster and Cristiano learned the joys of distortion.
Music career
Cristiano's first and most popular project was with In-Tense, a pop-rock band from Niagara Falls, Ontario. The group consisted of 4 members with Cristiano playing bass guitar and singing lead vocals. The band had fans in five continents and played throughout the United States. Eternal Rain, their first full length album, sold hundreds of copies and was distributed throughout the United States. The last show by In-Tense took place in 2002 at The Casbah in Hamilton, Ontario. They played a double bill with a band at the time called Pusch whose two key members were Clint and Bob Moffatt.
After he left the band in 2002 he formed a power trio called Heist with fellow musician Andrew Kyriacou. At the time, the two were both residing in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The band continually changes guitarists, yet Andrew and Cristiano are still good friends both residing in the Hamilton—Wentworth area. Heist's biggest show was with the Boston Post whose key member was Scott Moffatt. This was at the Basement in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Cristiano is now using his last name as a project dedicated to as many different forms of music as he can play. He realizes that although this makes him more difficult to market to one crowd, it will exponentially expand his fan base. The album, Reflections is a melange of different musical styles coming together to form a catchy mix of songs targeted at a 25+ demographic. Heist played the album release party at Joe Dog's Octane Lounge in Burlington, Ontario.
Recent information from friends claim that Cristiano and his brother Samuel McGibney are working on a trance/house project entitled Mauve Trees.
Film career
Cristiano was a production assistant with the assistant director team on the new hit miniseries, Across the River to Motor City (), which airs on Citytv (). In addition he has had his hand in several other productions including Death Dog and Memories.
Miscellaneous Facts
* Cristiano is a Founding Mentor of latest customizable card game Fight Klub. His handle is Tetsuo ().

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