Alessandro Mazzamuto - Piano Studio

Pianist Alessandro Mazzamuto is "one of the most inspiring, extraordinary pianists that I have had the joy to hear" - writes Martha Argerich - and when she was recently asked by the French newspaper L'Expresso to name her ten favorite young pianists, she included Alessandro in the company of artists such as Danil Trifonov, Beatrice Rana, Yuja Wang, Sergio Tiempo, Katia Buniatishvili. He is "no virtuoso of show, no ruthless technician, but a pianist absorbed in the music who plays with as much spontaneity as poetry," claims Pizzicato Magazine (Germany). Winner of International Classical Music Awards' 2013 Young Instrumental Artist of the Year, the 32-year-old Sicilian pianist has won more than 60 national and international competitions in piano and chamber music.

Mazzamuto has appeared as a soloist with many orchestras all over the world and with conductors such as Daisuke Soga, Amaury du Closel, John Axelrod, Yuta Shimizu, Tomasz Bugaj, Ovidiu Balan, Valentin Doni, Paul Phillips, Ovidiu Marinescu, and Epifanio Comis.​In addition, he has performed in numerous Asian, European, North American, and South American venues.

He was the finalist at the 58th edition of the prestigious "Ferruccio Busoni" International Piano Competition in 2011, Alessandro Mazzamuto was awarded the special prize "Gianandrea Lodovici,” which allowed him to record a CD for the German label ARTS with worldwide distribution. This prize was given at the discretion of the president of the jury, Martha Argerich, as the result of playing that possessed "a particular depth and originality of interpretation." Thanks to the recording of the above-mentioned CD with music by Rachmaninov, Mazzamuto, together with the ARTS record company, was awarded by international critics the prize "Supersonic - Pizzicato" in 2012. Also, he became a winner of 2014 Center for Musical Excellence (CME - New York) International Grant, Birte Moller Young Artists Award, and a CME Young Artist.

Most recently, he gave the two most important debuts of his life, first in New York with a solo recital at Carnegie Hall - it was a sold out standing ovation concert – and in Tokyo at the Tokyo Metropolitan Opera with a sold out house, the Tokyo-NCO and Chopin’s Piano Concerto n. 2.

Alessandro taught piano for six years at the Musical Institute "Pietro Vinci" in Caltagirone (Italy), the Municipal Institute "Giuseppe Privitera" in Syracuse (Italy), and the Accademia Musicale Siciliana in Adrano (Italy). He is currently Artist in Residence at Collora Piano in Dallas where he teaches piano, gives masterclasses, and serves as concert coordinator for international guest artists.

In addition, starting from October 2019 to present, Alessandro is Artistic Director and cofounder of "Concerts on the Lake". It's a Series of Recitals and Masterclasses founded in Dallas (White Rock Lake), Texas. Conceptualized and implemented a series of recitals and masterclasses for classical piano enthusiasts, students, aspiring artists and adult amateurs to promote appreciation, education and community.

EDUCATION:

Southern Methodist University, Meadows School of the Arts, Division of Music, Dallas, Texas: Artist Diploma in Piano Performance 2018, Performer’s Diploma in Piano Performance 2015 - Student of Dr. Carol Leone.

Music Institute Vincenzo Bellini, Catania, Sicily, Italy 2008-2010: Master’s Degree (Specialistic Laurea), with emphasis on interpretation and composition.

International Piano Academy Incontri col Maestro, Province of Bologna, Imola, Italy 2005-2008: Certificate, Multi-Annual Course in Piano Performance. Student of Franco Scala, Lazar Berman.

Music Institute Vincenzo Bellini, Catania, Sicily, Italy 1996-2007: Bachelor’s Degree (Laurea) in Piano Performance, High School and Undergraduate School combined. Student of Epifanio Comis.

Commercial Technical Institute G. Bovio, Catania, Sicily, Italy 2003-2007: Bachelor’s Degree, Accounting, Business and Economics.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Collora Piano in Dallas, Artist-in-Residence - January 2018 to present. Piano teacher, coordinator of recitals and masterclasses for international guest artists.

Applied piano lessons taught on the premises, maintenance of a studio of over thirty-five students from age four to seventy, organization of student recitals, preparation of students for competitions and college admission.

Production of sound and video recordings of student and self performances with audio engineers.

Southern Methodist University, Graduate Assistant September 2014 - January 2018 Taught piano lessons to undergraduate music majors and prepared students for juries and recitals, assisting Dr. Carol Leone, Professor of Piano, Chair of Piano Studies.

APPLIED PIANO ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS FROM 2006-2016:

Founders Classical Academy, Flower Mound, Texas 2015-2016.

Rojas School of Music, Dallas, Texas 2015-2016.

Pietro Vinci Music Institute, Caltagirone, Italy 2009-2013 and Chamber Music Coach 2010-2013.

Giuseppe Privitera Municipal Institute, Syracuse, Italy 2011-2014.

Accademia Musicale Siciliana, Adriano, Italy 2006-2013.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:

Music Teachers National Association, Texas Music Teachers Association, Dallas Music Teachers Association.

RECENT STUDENTS ACHIEVEMENTS:

2019 - Gold medal at the Steinway & Sons Piano Competition of Plano, TX.

2019 - 1st prize at the Dallas Symphonic Festival Piano Competition (Senior Sonata Division C).

2019 - 3rd prize at the Dallas Symphonic Festival Piano Competition (Senior Sonata Division A).

2019 - 4th prize at the Dallas Symphonic Festival Piano Competition (Senior Sonata Division B).

2019 - 5th prize at the Dallas Symphonic Festival Piano Competition (Junior Sonata Division B).

2019 - 3rd prize and honorable mention at the Baylor/Waco Piano Competition at the Baylor University School of Music.

2018 - 1st prize at the Dallas Piano Solo Competition (Division X).

Teaching Philosophy/Style:

Music is one of the most beautiful means of expression that human beings have. Since I can remember, all of my life experiences have been associated with classical music. My parents are both cellists and I can still vividly remember my father playing the Saint-Saens cello concerto when I was just 4 or 5 years old. Unfortunately today, the spirit and meaning of what music should be in our lives may be dramatically changing. Schools are changing their music programs to give more space for other topics, cutting off music and the arts in general. Today, I fear for new generations, not because less children are choosing classical music as part of their lives, but because of lack of exposure and the loss of the type ofopportunities that I received.

Though concertizing is extremely exciting, for me, teaching is absolutely at the same level of importance. The fact that we continually learn from each other and have the opportunity to rely on others, trust, and learn new lessons in life is absolutely amazing - an opportunity that can't be missed.

My various experiences as a professor in Italian conservatories for over 10 years were important achievements for my professional experience and my own musical improvement. I have worked with many different levels of students from the age of 6 to the age of 28 years old. Teaching young children is like cultivating a garden. We nurture these delicate seedlings, and with a little patience see them grow,becoming more independent, and maturing into healthy, well-established plants. At the college level, students are more confident, totally in love and committed to the music world,and because of that, lessons become even more stimulating for both teachers and students. At any level, my philosophy has been to teach each student individually according to his or her specific needs and understand any different circumstance. I have had experience teaching students with problems such as blindness, diabetes, autism, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Each piano lesson is different, thus requiring a specific approach. Piano playing requires organization, and it is based on some basic rules which I enjoy exploring together with my students in a continuously encouraging environment. After the student has performed his/her piece, and assuming that the basics are there, I focus on fingering and use of the pedal. My goal is to create solid foundations for a correct interpretation. Often, I demonstrate passages, since listening and observation strengthen verbally-explained concepts. The best quality of a pianist is his/her sound, as much as the voice is to a singer. In turn, piano mastery involves attentive listening, no less than playing.

I have also had the opportunity to teach chamber music. I believe it’s very important for any age and level. Taking a role in a group isn't easy, because one has to know how to listen, how to express one’s opinion, or to accept compromise.

The best teachers are able to connect with students on a personal level and support and inspire them as they work to achieve their goals. My long-term goal for my students is that they become independent, competent, life-long music-makers.Most important is that they will inspire the new generation, as I did with them, in order to maintain the meaning music in our culture.

Community outreach is an essential part of my work. At this time, I hold the position of Artist in Residence at Collora Piano in Dallas where I teach and organize masterclasses with world-renowned artists. I'm also artistic director of a concert series called "Concerts on the Lake" in Dallas at White Rock Lake. I have participated in and played solo recitals on many occasions in hospitals for patients affected by cancer. I trulybelieve that music is a cure for the soul, and for many of those people that were present, maybe listening to their last concert, perhaps their pain was relieved even for only a few minutes.

The thing that gives me most satisfaction is that I have contributed to the infusion of classical music traditions in the lives of young people. All of my life’s experiences have developed my personality and built the person and musician that I'm today. Today, I am eager to begin teaching piano in an American university, where I can continue to teach, inspire,and share the lessons I have learned in lessons with my future students.