Download a pdf press kit. Click the thumbnails for some hi-res promo pics:promo1promo2promo3promo4

Something about me...

I was born in Genova, Italy, on Thursday, September 15th, 1983. I had always lived there when in January 2003 I moved to Bogliasco, a small village just outside of the city limits, with my dad and stepmom.

I first picked up guitar when i was 8; actually, I really wanted to play the piano, but there was no way it would fit in our old home, so... I learned the basics from a family friend, then continued on my own. When I went for my first lesson with Armando Corsi, one of Genova's (and Italy's) most talented acoustic guitarists, I was sure I knew all there was to know. I was wrong.

Luckily enough, Armando proved to be a very patient teacher, and I let him steer me on the right track for my acoustic journey. He showed me the meaning of Duende, the spirit of Flamenco, and I discovered the importance of playing with your heart.

Abandoning my first efforts in the field of medicine, I decided for studying music full time as a perfromance major at Belmont University, in Nashville, TN. Despite being far from my sea and the wonderful cuisine of my hometown, the years at BU have been some of the happiest of my life. I was an active part in the most active and talented musical community I've ever witnessed, and both my peers and my teachers helped me grow so much as a person and a musician. Highlights of this period include my performance at the Other Showcase, the many shows with the Hillsboro Guitar Quartet, the release of Tones, my involvement with the theatrical production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the reception of the Outstanding School of Music Senior award.

After graduating magna cum laude in December of 2006, I am now working on the next step of my musical journey: in August of 2007 I began my MM Studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, under the brilliant and stimulating tutelage of David Tanenbaum.

 

And something about my music...

I wrote my first instrumental piece in the summer of 2000. Since then, I have always tried to convey my emotions, my feelings, my recollections with melodies and harmonies. Every "song" (the guitar is the singer) reflects an aspect of my life, tells a story, or is a gift to someone near.

Some people say that it's harder to state something without using words; I find it quite easier to let the music speak up for me. I have summed up the first chapter of my output in the recording of Tones from an Open Heart, which was finished in the Spring of 2005. Follow the link to learn more about my first full-lenght original project.

Nowadays, I do a substantial part of my performances as a classical guitarist. I find the variety of repertoire to be absolutely engaging, and I am extremely fond of the role of the perfromer as a medium for communication - from composers who lived perhaps centuries ago, to the modern audience. The last 80 years have seen the production of truly outstanding music for the instrument by world-class composers, and I can see myself focussing my studies on this particular section of the field in the near future. During the years, I have worked closely on my interpretations with the likes of Paul Galbraith, Marc Teicholz, Dale Kavanagh, Lorenzo Micheli, Massimo Felici, Gary Ryan and Rodney Stucky.

That's it for now. Stay tuned as I will be sure to let you know if anything major changes.


-gf

Home.