Giuliano
Mazzoccante

Giuliano Mazzoccante, born in Chieti, is internationally recognized as one of the finest Italian pianists of his generation. He graduated with highest honors, distinction and special mention from the Conservatorio “L. Cherubini” of Florence. He obtained the Diploma of Excellence from the Accademia Musicale Umbra, the Diploma of Merit in Chamber Music from the Trio of Trieste courses, and was awarded a scholarship by the Accademia Chigiana of Siena, before further refining his studies with Lazar Berman.

He has held advanced masterclasses in Austria (Salzburg – Mozarteum), Russia (Moscow – Yamaha Center), the United States (Washington – Catholic University), Germany (Aachen, Cologne Hochschule), Spain (Conservatory of Valecia and Campillos), Malta (La Valletta International Music Festival), and in numerous Italian institutions, most notably at the Imola International Academy Foundation “Incontri con il Maestro”. Since 2010, he has been responsible for the selection of Italian musicians for the International Summer Academy in Pommersfelden in Germany.

A winner of over fifty national and international competitions, his most notable distinctions include the “Premio Venezia”, the “Arcangelo Speranza” International Piano Competition in Taranto, and the 4th Tbilisi International Piano Competition in Georgia. He has performed throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States, and has appeared as a soloist with major orchestras including the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, the Kiev Philharmonic Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Mannheim, and the Symphony Orchestra of Abruzzo.

In 2023, he performed Beethoven’s Triple Concerto at the Tonhalle Zurich and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue at the Aram Khatchaturian Concert Hall in Yerevan.

His artistic training spans classical music, opera, and ballet. From 2001 to 2007, he collaborated in productions at the Theatre Marrucino of Chieti as répétiteur, assistant stage director, and vocal coach, working alongside artists such as R. Bruson, L. Arruga, C. Desderi, D. Renzetti, and V. Grigolo. From 2002 to 2008, he further developed his expertise in classical, modern, and contemporary ballet as an accompanist pianist and lecturer in music applied to dance, collaborating with the Royal Academy of London and working with dancers such as L. Wallis (Director of the Royal Academy), R. Paganini, and F. Olivieri.

He regularly performs and collaborates with internationally renowned musicians including L. Piovano (Principal Cello of the National Orchestra of Santa Cecilia), K. Leister (former Principal Clarinet of the Berlin Philharmonic), F. Manara and F. Meloni (Principal Violinist and Principal Clarinet of the Theatre La Scala, Milan), Daishin Kashimoto (Concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic), P. De Ritis (Principal Bassoon of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra), Alberto Negroni (former Principal Oboist of the  Theater La Scala and of the Festival “Maggio Musicale Fiorentino”), D. Schwarzberg, M. Bouchkov, and P. Berman.

His discography includes recordings for Dynamic, Wide Classique, DAD Records, Camerata Tokyo, Radio Vaticana, Phoenix Classics, and Da Vinci Records. He served as Artistic Director of the Scuola Civica Musicale di San Giovanni Teatino, where he curated the FB Jazz program, hosting artists such as J. Berlin, M. Stern, M. Tamburini, D. Schmitt, O. Ruiz, F. Gambale, and A. Caron, and organized concert seasons with international performers, bringing artists such as P. Avati, L. Wertmuller, and V. Cerami to the Abruzzo region.

His versatility led him to pursue choral and orchestral conducting. He attended orchestral conducting courses with M° M. Bufalini, conducting, among others, the Kiev String’s Orchestra and the Orchestra Philharmonic of Bacau, as well as numerous works of sacred music.

He is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Music and Art International Academy of Chieti, where he teaches advanced specialization courses. In 2018 and 2020, he served as Artistic Director of the “In Musica Roma- International Music Festival and Piano Competition”, held at the Academic Hall of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music (PIMS) and at the Theatre Argentina in Rome. He is Artistic Director of the International Music Festival CHIETI CLASSICA, now in its eighth edition, which has hosted internationally acclaimed artists such as P. Gililov, P. Vernikov, P. Amoyal, M. Coppey and G. Rivinius.

Since 2023, he has served as Artistic Director of the Spoltore Ensemble, involving renowned theatre actors (Sergio Rubini, Beppe Barra), principal dancers from the Theater La Scala, the Theater San Carlo, and the Theater of Opera in Rome. In 2025, for the first time in the history of the festival, Verdi’s opera “La Traviata” was performed outdoors. Since 2024, he has also been Artistic Director of the “ClaviCologne Sea of Sounds” Festival in Pescara.

He is a member of numerous juries for instrumental and opera competitions, alongside figures such as G. Casolla, M. Caldi, and M. Papadopoulos. Since 2022, he has served as Artistic Director of the Theatre Committee of the Theater Marrucino of Chieti.

He is currently Professor of Principal Piano at the State Conservatory  “L. D’Annunzio” of Pescara.