Simone Sgarbanti
Pianist
Bio
"Praised for his extraordinary versatility, Simone
Sgarbanti's performances often include lesser-known
works of 20th-century French music, paired with
pieces from the more canonical piano repertoire and
improvisation. The resulting programs capture the
audience’s attention, allowing listeners to discover
new works and rediscover more familiar pieces in a
very intimate and refined interpretative key.”
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Born in Reggio Emilia in 1995, he first approached music through the hymns of the Protestant church, then developed a passion for gospel, jazz, and improvisation, while simultaneously pursuing classical studies at the Conservatory, graduating with the highest marks, honors, and a special commendation under the guidance of Alberto Arbizzi. After moving to Vienna, he continued his studies first with Jura Margulis, then with Avedis Kouyoumdjian at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst, where he refined his skills in piano and chamber music.
At the same time, he studied with André Gallo, Igor Roma, and Enrico Pace at the Imola International Piano Academy.
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Over the years, he has had the honor of deepening his repertoire by attending courses with
internationally renowned musicians and artists such as Andrei Gavrilov, Julius Berger, members of the Artis Quartet, Markus Schirmer, Henri Sigfridsson, Andrea Lucchesini, Janoska Ensemble, and many others. He has performed for prestigious seasons and festivals (Società Umanitaria, Accademia Filarmonica Romana, Polincontri Musica, Musikverein, Konzerthaus Vienna, Friday Night with Yury Revich, Schiermonnikoog Festival Jong Talent, Amadeus Festival…) in Italy, Austria, France, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, the Netherlands, Morocco, and Japan.
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In addition to numerous first prizes in international competitions (ISA Award 2021, A. Baldi Piano Award, Scarlatti Competition, Giorgio e Aurora Giovannini Competition…), he has also received the Augusto del Rio scholarship (Casa Musicale A. Del Rio) and the Stefano Diomede award (Società Dante Alighieri).
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He is also involved in intensive research on the music of Joseph Marx, whose works for violin, cello, and piano he recorded together with Vida Vujic and Minna Pensola; these recordings will be released in 2025 by Naxos.
Since 2024, he has been appointed as piano teacher at the Conservatory of Reggio Emilia.
