Artist Faculty Performance Spotlight
Alessandro Mazzamuto, piano
Alessandro Mazzamuto, an Italian pianist of exceptional artistry, has been acclaimed by Martha Argerich as "one of the most inspiring, extraordinary pianists I have had the joy to hear." A distinguished finalist at the 58th Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition in 2011, Mazzamuto was awarded the prestigious Gian Andrea Lodovici Prize, conferred by Argerich herself. This honor recognized his performance for its remarkable depth and originality. As a consequence, Mazzamuto was invited to perform at the renowned Martha Argerich Project in Lugano, Switzerland, in 2013.
The Lodovici Prize also afforded him the opportunity to record with the esteemed German label ARTS MUSIC in 2012. His recording, which featured the original version of Rachmaninoff's Sonata No. 2, earned the coveted "Supersonic - Pizzicato" award, presented by a panel of twenty-one international music critics.
Pizzicato Magazine (Germany) lauded him as "no virtuoso of spectacle, no relentless technician, but a pianist wholly immersed in the music, playing with spontaneity and poetry." In 2013, he was honored with the title of Young Instrumental Artist of the Year at the International Classical Music Awards (formerly known as the Cannes Classical Awards), an accolade bestowed at the Marché International du Disque et de l'Édition Musicale (MIDEM).
Born in Catania, Sicily, Mazzamuto commenced his piano studies at the age of nine under the tutelage of Maestro Epifanio Comis. He graduated with highest honors from the V. Bellini Conservatory of Music in Catania, winning over sixty national and international awards in piano and chamber music. He pursued further studies at the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University (SMU), under the guidance of Dr. Carol Leone and Maestro Joaquín Achúcarro, where he earned both Performer’s and Artist Diplomas. At SMU, Mazzamuto received many accolades, including the 2014 Center for Musical Excellence International Grant, the Birte Moller Young Artists Award, and a CME Young Artist.
These accomplishments culminated in his debut solo recital at Carnegie Hall in 2014, which was met with a standing ovation and a sold-out audience. Following this triumph, he was invited to perform as a soloist with the Tokyo New City Orchestra.
Mazzamuto has been a distinguished soloist with eminent orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra (UK), the Orchest ra Sinfonica "La Verdi" (Milan), the Tokyo New City Orchestra (Japan), the Berlin RIAS Philharmonic (Germany), the Ukrainian Symphony Orchestra, the "George Enescu" Philharmonic (Bucharest), the Gwangju Symphony Orchestra (South Korea), the Chamber Orchestra of Kiev (Ukrain e), the Ploesti Philharmonic (Romania), the West Chester Symphony Orchestra (Pennsylvania, USA), the Meadows Symphony Orchestra (Dallas, USA), the Bacau Philharmonic (Romania), and the Long Island Concert Orchestra (NY). He has collaborated with renowned conductors such as Enrico Fagone, Daisuke Soga, Amaury du Closel, John Axelrod, Yuta Shimizu, Tomasz Bugaj, Ovidiu Balan, Valentin Doni, Paul Phillips, Ovidiu Marinescu, and Epifanio Comis.
His performances have graced numerous prestigious venues across Asia, Europe, North America, and South America, including Carnegie Hall (New York), Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre (Japan), the Auditorium of the Santa Cecilia Conservatory (Rome), Salle Cortot (Paris), St. Luke’s (London) La Fenice Opera House (Venice), Moscow Conservatory Chamber Hall (Russia), Fazioli Concert Hall (Sacile, Italy), Ateneo Romano (Bacau, Romania), Il Tempio (Florence), Swope Hall Auditorium (West Chester, Pennsylvania), Auditorium Giuseppe Verdi (Milan), Caruth Auditorium (Dallas), Centro Cultural Kirchner (Buenos Aires), Auditorium Juan Bautista Gutiérrez (Guatemala City), Teatro Massimo Bellini (Catania, Italy), Wang Opera Center (Naples, USA), the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts (NY), and the DiMenna Center (New York City).
In March 2024, Mazzamuto delivered a highly anticipated solo recital as part of the distinguished concert season at Fazioli Concert Hall in Sacile, Italy and in May 2024 performed Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor with Enrico Fagone and the Long Island Concert Orchestra at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts.
In June 2024, Mazzamuto was invited to join the Recording Academy’s GRAMMYs Class of 2024 as a Voting Member. Beginning in August 2024, he took on the role of Adjunct Associate Professor of Piano at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX.
In August 2024, Mazzamuto undertook the monumental challenge of performing a marathon of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concertos No. 2 & No. 3 in a single night at the DiMenna Center in New York City. This extraordinary feat, which few pianists in history have dared to attempt due to the extreme technical and emotional demands of these works, was met with tremendous acclaim for Mazzamuto's virtuosity, emotional depth, and stamina, solidifying his reputation as a remarkable artist.
Following this triumph, in early September 2024, Mazzamuto traveled to London to record the same two concertos with the London Symphony Orchestra at St. Luke’s. This highly anticipated recording marks a significant milestone in his career and further solidifies his position as one of today’s foremost pianists.
In February 2025, Alessandro signed a prestigious partnership with Hänssler Classic, one of the most respected independent labels in the world. Under this collaboration, his London recording, performed with the London Symphony Orchestra will be released, marking a significant milestone in his career.
In addition to his formal education, Mazzamuto has participated in masterclasses with some of the most esteemed professors and concert pianists in the world. He has had the honor of working with Sir András Schiff, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Zoltán Kocsis, Sergei Babayan, Joaquín Soriano, Boris Slutsky, Marcello Abbado, Bernard Ringeissen, Eduardo Hubert, Gianluca Cascioli, Jin Ju, Sergio Perticaroli, Antonio Ballista, Robert Roux, Piero Rattalino, and Sergei Girshenko, in duo with his brother Lorenzo. Furthermore, while studying at the V. Bellini Conservatory of Music in Catania, he was also a student at the prestigious Accademia di Imola “Incontri col Maestro,” where he had the opportunity to learn from renowned pianists Franco Scala and Lazar Berman. In addition to his musical education, Mazzamuto holds a bachelor’s degree in Tecnico Commerciale (Diploma in Accounting from IGEA, specializing in Legal, Economic, and Business Studies). In addition to his solo performances, Mazzamuto has collaborated with violinist José Cárdenas and the Julius Quartet, performing Chausson’s Concerto for Piano, Violin, and String Quartet. He has also worked with renowned cellists Andrés Díaz, Santiago Cagnon, and Sinéad O'Halloran, as well as violinist Aaron Boyd.
Alongside his solo career, Mazzamuto performs as part of the celebrated Duo Mazzamuto, with his brother, violinist Lorenzo Mazzamuto.
