© Nino D'Amico
Curriculum
Biography
Nino D’Amico, born in Naples in 1997 and holding a diploma in Enogastronomy, began studying classical guitar at the age of 12 under the guidance of his father. He later deepened his studies for over five years with M° Marco Caiazza, renowned for his advanced research on virtuoso guitar technique, musical expressiveness, and interpretation, as well as for his significant didactic contributions in training young talents.
In 2013, he was admitted to the San Pietro a Majella Conservatory in Naples. During this period, he also attended numerous workshops and seminars with distinguished musicians, further enriching his artistic growth and musical perspective. In April 2014, he attended his first masterclass with Cuban composer, guitarist, and conductor Leo Brouwer, a major figure in the guitar repertoire thanks to his innovative works and influential career.
After years of intense training, he had the opportunity to attend numerous masterclasses and seminars across Italy and Europe, working with internationally acclaimed guitarists such as Aniello Desiderio, Frédéric Zigante, Andrea De Vitis, Gabriel Bianco, Alvaro Pierri, Marcin Dylla, Paolo Pegoraro, Tilman Hoppstock, Christian Saggese, Judicaël Perroy, Zoran Dukić, and many others.
Academic and Artistic Training
Nino earned his First-Level Academic Diploma from the San Pietro a Majella Conservatory of Music in Naples, graduating with top marks and honors. After completing his three-year program, in 2019 he pursued an advanced specialization course under M° Aniello Desiderio at the Stefano Strata headquarters in Pisa, where he was recognized as the best student and awarded the "Roberto Borghini" scholarship.
He later completed his Second-Level Academic Diploma at the Domenico Cimarosa Conservatory in Avellino, once again graduating with the highest marks, honors, and special mention, under the guidance of the distinguished Neapolitan maestro.
Additionally, he successfully completed the School of Classical Guitar: Annual Second-Level Master in Advanced Musical Interpretation, focusing on interpretative analysis and solo repertoire, at the same conservatory in Avellino, under the direction of M° Lucio Matarazzo. Throughout this program, he refined both the technical and expressive aspects of classical guitar, once again achieving top marks, honors, special mention, and another scholarship.
Competitions and Awards
From the early years of his guitar studies, Nino began participating in numerous musical competitions, both nationally and internationally, earning prestigious accolades. On May 28, 2019, he was awarded a scholarship by the renowned EuroStrings platform, which enabled him to attend the International Guitar Festival Harmonia Cordis in Târgu Mureș, Romania, both as a competitor and as a participant in masterclasses.
He later advanced to the competition finals and, with great success, won First Prize, a highly significant achievement. This important recognition gave a significant boost to his artistic career on an international scale, allowing him to achieve numerous successes worldwide. To date, he has won over fifty competitions, earning First, Second, and Third Prizes, along with several Special Awards.
Through interviews and performances, Nino has established himself as an emerging young talent, performing across Europe, engaging with some of the most renowned guitarists in the classical scene, and embarking on an important series of international concerts.
Concert Career
From a young age, Nino began performing in small local events, but 2020 marked a turning point in his career. In a year profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, he launched a series of virtual concerts in collaboration with a network of European guitar festivals, gaining widespread attention and reaching an international audience. Despite global restrictions, he continued his musical activity by participating in prestigious online events, further solidifying his presence on the global stage.
With the return of live performances, his artistic journey took a new step forward, leading him to perform in major festivals and embark on international tours. He currently collaborates with several Italian Cultural Institutes abroad and is actively involved in a global circuit of guitar festivals, where he performs solo recitals, conducts masterclasses, and serves as a jury member in high-level competitions.
Discography
In 2021, Nino presented the preview of his first album, dedicated to Agustín Barrios Mangoré, produced in collaboration with DotGuitar and under the supervision of Maestros Aniello Desiderio and Lucio Matarazzo. Titled Agustín Barrios Works, the album represents a significant milestone in his artistic career. A distinguishing feature of the project is the contribution of M° Angelo Gilardino, who wrote the liner notes, highlighting the natural interpretative quality and deep expressiveness of the performances.
The album gained wide visibility thanks to an interview on Rai Radio 3 and a collaboration with Guitar Salon International (GSI). Additionally, two pieces from the album, Preludio in C Minor and El Último Trémolo, were recorded in exclusive high-definition videos through a partnership with D’Addario and subsequently published on various digital platforms.
After achieving further international success, in 2024, he decided to release a new album dedicated to twelve sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti, titled Domenico Scarlatti - Sonatas. The project stems from his deep interest in Baroque music and is characterized by meticulous musicological research, including a comparative analysis of various official transcriptions.
Both albums are available on all major streaming platforms and are distributed through multiple digital channels.
Awards and Recognitions
· August 12, 2019: EuroStrings officially announced Nino D'Amico as the winner of the International Competition of the Harmonia Cordis Association, recognizing him as the new EuroStrings Artist for the 2019/20 season and the representative of Romania in the following year’s program. Additionally, he became only the second musician to successfully carry forward the ambitious EuroStrings journey.
· October 2, 2021: A prestigious artistic award was conferred by a scientific committee chaired by M° Frédéric Zigante, officially recognizing Nino D'Amico with the "Chitarra d’Oro" (Golden Guitar) as "Revelation of the Year". This honor was awarded in acknowledgment of his outstanding achievements in numerous international and European competitions, in which he distinguished himself as the absolute winner. The award was officially included in a commemorative trophy, engraved with the inscription for the 26th International Conference of Milan, held at the G. Verdi Conservatory of Milan, in the prestigious Puccini Hall.
· March 22, 2022: Nino was honored with the title of D'Addario Artist, marking the beginning of an exclusive collaboration with the renowned brand, a global leader in the production of guitar strings and accessories. This significant achievement not only strengthened his international presence but also granted him access to prestigious events and initiatives promoted by the brand.
The partnership also includes close collaboration with Guitar Salon International (GSI) and the Omni Foundation for the Performing Arts, through which he has already produced exclusive content, such as videos, interviews, and recordings aimed at promoting classical guitar. Thanks to his strong synergy with D’Addario, new innovative projects and original content are on the horizon, ensuring the continued global promotion and appreciation of classical guitar.
He currently plays a 2021 Alessandro Marseglia guitar.
© Nino D'Amico