Marco Antonio Cavazzoni was a notable Renaissance-era Italian composer known for his keyboard works. He was also the father of Girolamo Cavazzoni, who was also a distinguished composer of keyboard, as well as sacred vocal works. Born around 1490, Marco Antonio Cavazzoni most likely benefited from the finest education available in his day, both in academics and music, owing to the fortunate finances enjoyed by his family. There is evidence that well before he reached adulthood, he was already a talented musician admired by royalty and upper-class Italian society alike. Leonora Gonzaga, Duchess of Urbino, makes reference to him and his musical skills in correspondence dating to 1512. From that year until 1517, there is some evidence to suggest Cavazzoni may have performed in the service of the wealthy Venetian nobleman Francesco Cornaro. From 1517-1524 Cavazzoni established his career mostly in Venice, playing organ, teaching, and composing. He was almost certainly a singer at St. Mark's Basilica during the latter part of this period. Cavazzoni did take leave of Venice to perform for Pope Leo X at the Vatican from April 1520 until the following February. After his return to Venice, Cavazzoni prepared a volume of music for publication. Published in 1523 with special permission granted by the Venetian Senate, the book contained ricercars, motets, and canzonas, all for keyboard, some of the pieces appearing to be intabulations of Cavazzoni's own vocal creations. After a brief stint in Padua, Cavazzoni returned to Venice in 1528 and seems to have worked there or in the vicinity for nearly the next decade. There is strong evidence he was organist at the Treviso and Chioggia Cathedrals in the 1530s. After 1537 he may have worked in Urbino for the Duchess. His later years are equally unclear, though in the 1550s (and probably in the previous decade as well) he seems to have been a singer, once again, at St. Mark's Basilica, where he served with Marc' Antonio de Alvise, a musician with whom he has often been confused. Cavazzoni left a will dated 1560 and died mostly likely that year or the next.