MARIANNA RUGGIERO

First Prize & Musician of the Year – Special Award

Italian pianist, currently a second-year Master's student in Piano Performance at the Umberto Giordano Conservatory in Foggia, studying under Anna Chiara D'Ascoli. She completed her Bachelor's studies at the same institution, graduating in March 2024 with highest honors (110/110).

She performs regularly throughout Europe and the United States, and is dedicated to building a solo concert career characterized by artistic depth and expressive maturity. Her artistic development has been enriched through prestigious masterclasses with Oxana Yablonskaya, Alexander Romanovsky, and Antonio Pompa-Baldi.

Competition Achievements

She is a prizewinner at numerous international piano competitions, including:

• First Prize – International Chopin Roma Piano Competition

• First Prize – Scarlatti International Piano Competition (Trapani)

• First Prize – OYPI Eilat and OYPI Bulgaria

• Absolute First Prize – "László Spezzaferri" International Music Competition (Verona)

• Absolute First Prize – Talento Contemporaneo Competition (Trieste)

• Absolute First Prize – 38th "J. S. Bach" Piano Competition (Sestri Levante)

Orchestral Experience

She has gained significant orchestral experience performing in Viterbo and Rome with the ICNT Orchestra, and in Brescia with the Master Orchestra.