Music Director
For over a decade, Michaelangelo has been serving as music director to some of the world’s premier health, social and environmental philanthropic foundations.
His notable work with amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, UNICEF, Prince Albert II de Monaco Ocean Foundation, The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, UNITAS Human Trafficking Foundation, The New York Food Bank, Steven Tyler’s Janie's House mark some of his proudest accomplishments in his career.
Chopard Oscars 2024
Julia Roberts and Chopard Celebrate Their Collaboration With a Star-Studded Dinner at Chateau Marmont. In an evening as high-wattage as the creations it celebrated, Chopard and Julia Roberts with supporting host Elton John took over Chateau Marmont to celebrate their inaugural collaboration. The partnership unveiled a parure co-designed by the maison’s co-president and artistic director, Caroline Scheufele, and Julia Roberts, Chopard’s global ambassador.
amfAR Venice Gala 2023
amfAR returned to Italy on Sunday, September 3, for amfAR Venezia, held once again in conjunction with the Venice Film Festival. Guests were treated to a magical evening, complete with a black-tie seated gala dinner, a live auction of contemporary artworks, and one-of-a-kind experiences with marquee performances by Rita Ora, Leona Lewis and music direction by Michaelangelo L’Acqua.
amfAR Cannes Gala 2023
The Cannes Film Festival is one of the most high-profile and fashionable events of the year, but there’s one particular fête over the 12-day extravaganza in the South of France that always stands out as a major highlight, and that’s the annual AmFAR Gala. The amfAR Gala in Cannes may be the only social event to rival the Met Gala. Held at the sprawling Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc during the Cannes Film Festival, the event raises money for AIDS research. This year’s event was hosted by Queen Latifah with performances by Halsey, Gladys Knight, Adam Lambert, Bebe Rexha, and music direction by Michaelangelo L’Acqua.
LuisaViaRoma x UNICEF Saint Barth Fundraiser 2022
LuisaViaRoma hosted the second winter edition of its LuisaViaRoma for UNICEF gala in St. Barth on Thursday, December 29th, 2022, held at Emeraude St Barth. The night featured a cocktail reception, a gala dinner, and a live auction featuring exclusive items, artwork, and experiences. The highlight of the evening included special performances by the multi-award-winning artists Lenny Kravitz, and DRAKE with music direction by Michaelangelo L'Acqua. Among the notable guests in attendance who came out to support this special evening were Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup, Luke Evans, Edward Enninful Obe, Rita Ora, Karolina Kurkova, Maxwell, Kygo, Liya Kebede, Kiernan Shipka, Taika Waititi, Remo Ruffini, Georgia Palmer, Chase Hudson, Nabilla Vergara, Jordan Barrett, Rachel Zoe, Amalie Gassmann, Sveva Alviti, Bob Sinclair and Frida Aasen.
LuisaViaRoma x UNICEF Capri Gala 2022
This year’s annual star-studded gala raised more than eight million euros for Ukrainian and Syrian relief efforts. The event was hosted by Jamie Foxx at the historic Certosa di San Giacomo and featured an incredible performance by everyone's favorite pop icon Jennifer Lopez and a DJ performance by music director Michaelangelo L’Acqua.
amfAR Cannes Gala 2022
amfAR was proud to present a triumphant return of the annual amfAR Gala Cannes at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France, on May 26, 2022. This glittering event helped raise $19 million for amfAR’s life-saving AIDS research programs. Special Performances By Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, Charli XCX, and music direction by Michaelangelo L’Acqua.
amfAR Gala Palm Beach 2022.
On March 5, 2022, amfAR hosted its inaugural amfAR Gala Palm Beach. This intimate and exclusive evening featured a special performance by Christina Aguilera, music director Michaelangelo L’Acqua, honoree tribute to Tommy Hilfiger, cocktail reception, seated gala dinner, and a live auction of luxury experiences and exquisite contemporary art.
UNICEF Gala Capri 2021
LuisaViaRoma hosted the fourth edition of the charity event LuisaViaRoma for UNICEF. Held in the magical Certosa San Giacomo of Capri, the unforgettable evening featured a cocktail reception, a gala dinner, and a live auction of luxury items with performances by global pop superstar Katy Perry, Grammy-winning artist John Legend and music director Michaelangelo L’Acqua.
UNICEF St Barth Gala 2021
LuisaViaRoma hosted the fifth edition of the charity event LuisaViaRoma for UNICEF. Held in the magical Eden Rock St Barths, the unforgettable evening featured a cocktail reception, a gala dinner, and a live auction of luxury items with performances by global superstar DUA LIPA with music styling created by music director Michaelangelo L’Acqua.
amfAR Gala Cannes 2021
The 27th annual amfAR Gala Cannes raised over $11 million for amfAR's life-saving AIDS research programs at Villa EilenRoc in Antibes, France, on July 16. Alicia Keys headlined the evening, which included an exclusive dinner, auction, and a fashion show curated by Carine Roitfeld and music directed by Michaelangelo L’Acqua. Longtime amfAR Global Campaign Chair, Sharon Stone, hosted the evening and served as auctioneer along with Simon de Pury and Sandra Nedvetskaia.
amfAR Gala Venice 2021
amfAR returned to the Venice Film Festival to host amfAR Venice, a celebration of Italian culture, style, art, and film. Guests enjoyed a cocktail reception and dinner in the Arsenale. After dinner, guests were transported by gondolas to enjoy an exclusive program from a floating stage on the Venetian lagoon. The program featured musical performances by Nicole Scherzinger and music director Michaelangelo L’Acqua.
amfAR Gala Los Angeles 2021
Over $1.7 million was raised for amfAR’s HIV/AIDS research programs at the amfAR Gala Los Angeles, November 4. The gala honored Moschino’s creative director Jeremy Scott, with performances by One Republic and music director Michaelangelo L’Acqua. An extraordinary highlight of the evening was when the legendary Madonna presented the Award of Courage to her close friend Jeremy Scott for his longstanding commitment to amfAR and the fight against AIDS.
UNICEF Gala Capri 2020
The collaboration called for an event that took place Saturday August 29th at the beautiful La Certosa di San Giacomo in Capri which included an intimate dinner, a live auction, a musical appearance by the Grammy-award winning group Clean Bandit, Rita Ora, music director Michaelangelo L’Acqua and a special performance by the legendary Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli. LUISAVIAROMA CEO Andrea Panconesi, UNICEF Italy Executive Director Paolo Rozera, and Fundraising Chairman Tommaso Chiabra hosted the special evening supporting and celebrating UNICEF’s work in providing care and protection to vulnerable children across the globe.
amfAR Gala Cannes 2019
The 26th annual amfAR Gala Cannes at the fabled Hôtel du Cap on May 23 raised $15 million in support of amfAR’s efforts to develop a cure for HIV. The event featured performances by Mariah Carey, Sir Tom Jones, Dua Lipa, The Struts, Charli XCX and Austrian tenor Andreas Schager, and a spectacular fashion show curated by Carine Roitfeld, music directed by Michaelangelo L’Acqua. To date, this star-studded event has raised more than $235 million for amfAR’s life-saving research programs and has helped keep the fight against AIDS in the global media spotlight.
UNICEF Italia and LuisaViaRoma Summer Gala 2019
Porto Cervo, Italy, August 9, 2019 – UNICEF Italia and LuisaViaRoma hosted the second UNICEF Summer Gala last night in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, a benefit event to support UNICEF’s activities to protect children’s rights worldwide. Hosted in the magical Mediterranean atmosphere of Li Neuli Country Club, the unforgettable event featured a sunset cocktail, dinner gala, auction and performances by Ellie Goulding, Dame Shirley Bassey and UNICEF music director Michaelangelo L’Acqua. The successful event raised 3.5 million euros to sustain UNICEF.
amfAR Gala Cannes 2018
The unforgettable evening featured spectacular performances by Sting and Shaggy, Grace Jones, Ellie Goulding and Jason Derulo, music director Michaelangelo L’Acqua and a stunning fashion show curated by longtime amfAR supporter Carine Roitfeld, music directed by Michaelangelo L’Acqua. The looks were then auctioned off as a collection, which fetched $1.7 million. Other auction highlights included a Pierce Brosnan original painting, which sold for $1.4 million; a restored 1964 S3 Bentley Convertible, introduced by Heidi Klum and Benicio Del Toro, which sold for over $800,000; and a Joe Bradley painting, which brought in nearly $1 million.
amfAR Cannes,
The Red Fashion Collection
The 21st annual Cinema Against AIDS at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France, May 22, raised a record $35 million for amfAR. The star-studded black-tie event was presented by Worldview Entertainment, Bold Films, and BVLGARI and music directed by Michaelangelo L’Acqua.
CR Fashion Book by Carine Roitfeld.
It’s been over 20 years since Michaelangelo first had the honor to work with Tom Ford’s Muse, Carine Roitfeld. He has the unique pleasure to still collaborate with Carine for her epic fundraising CR Fashion Book collections during the Cannes amfAR Gala at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc.
amfAR Gala Cannes 2019 by Carine Roitfeld
It’s been over 20 years since Michaelangelo first had the honor to work with Tom Ford’s Muse, Carine Roitfeld. He has the unique pleasure to still collaborate with Carine for her epic fundraising CR Fashion Book collections during the Cannes amfAR Gala at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc.
amfAR Cannes, Discothèque
Amfar Disco Collection fashion show designers included Burberry, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Diane von Furstenberg, DSQUARED2, Elie Saab, Fendi, Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Marchesa, Prada, Roberto Cavalli, Stella McCartney, Tom Ford, Versace, with music direction by Michaelangelo L’Acqua.
Le Défilé L'Oréal Paris 2018
"Le Défilé L'Oréal Paris": The Brand's First Fashion and Beauty Runway Show on the Champs-Élysées with music by Michaelangelo L’Acqua.
How It All Began: Circa 1999
“Circa1999, a friend of mine was working for Cynthia Rowley, their music person quit so I got a page on my beeper to call them: “Hey do you want to do a fashion show?” “A what?” I had no idea what a fashion show was. They explained, I said, “sounds all right but how much does it pay?” They said “$500.” I said, “Wow, $500 to produce music! I’m down!” So I produced the music for Cynthia Rowley's New York Fashion Week show. At the time, in the late nineties, there weren’t a lot of musicians/artists with computer skills to write and remix in a music sequencing program. I was one of them and I went by the name “Onda” which means wave in Spanish. Apparently, the show made some noise and a few days later I got a call from the legendary fashion producer Kevin Krier asking if I would like to audition for an unknown client. I was asked to remix Marlene Dietrich’s “Falling in Love Again” in 3 different music styles. I did and submitted the remixes. A few days later I was told, “the client wants to meet you in Paris." I tried to play it so cool like this sort of thing happened to me all the time. I’d never been to Paris let alone Europe and inside I was completely freaking out. Upon arrival in Paris, I remember being driven down George V in some fancy car when Kevin finally said in a powerful and intimidating tone “you’re about to meet Tom Ford.” I had no clue who he was so I turned to my roommate and new business partner at the time, Rene Arsenault, and said, “how is he related to Ford Motors, and why are they doing a fashion show?” Kevin barked at me to get serious and that these are the moments that can change one’s life forever. I could not have been more clueless and this was my saving grace because Tom Ford was a God amongst mortals in the industry, and still is today. We met, listened to a bunch of music, he shared ideas on how he creates and what he needed me to create for him. I treated him like a normal human being and I think he found that naively endearing. Shortly thereafter, we were hired to be music directors for Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent and we headed to Milan to produce our first Gucci show and then to Paris to produce Tom Ford’s first Yves Saint Laurent show. Again, when I look back, I was so clueless. I’ve been told repeatedly by my now accomplished fashion friends that this moment was one of the biggest moments in all of fashion history. Yves Saint Laurent, the most prolific and iconic of creators of fashion was stepping down from the house that bared his name to pass the torch to Tom Ford. We produced 8 collections for Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent and the rest as they say is history.
Yves Saint Laurent SS 2001 by Tom Ford.
Soundtrack by Onda, A.K.A Michaelangelo L’Acqua and Rene Arsenault.
Tom Ford’s Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Homme Fall Winter 2001-2002.
Soundtrack by Onda, A.K.A Michaelangelo L’Acqua and Rene Arsenault.