He received his Ph.D. in musicology from the University of Texas at Austin
in 2006. His dissertation explores the subject of vocal music printed with
alfabeto, a popular guitar tablature system cultivated in Italy in the
first half of the seventeenth century. Additional research interests
include music of the early modern Italian south and Afro-American popular
music.

He spent June completing research in Wroclaw, Poland, and in Padua, Italy. While in Europe, he attended the Munich Summer Opera Festival and World Cup soccer festivities.

As an instructor at the University of Texas, Gavito taught courses in opera
history and music appreciation, and served as director of the UT Early
Music ensemble. He remains an active jazz pianist and continuo keyboardist.
He has performed with Clark Terry, Carl Fontana, and the early music
recording group Musica Segreta.