BIOGRAPHY

I was born in Lecce, in the heart of Salento, and I began studying the harp at the age of eight. A combination of grace and strength, discipline and creativity—the vibrations that travel from the strings through the entire body, the embrace that envelops that living wood, the sound that is at times sweet and at times bold, produced by my fingers: all these elements made me fall in love with the harp from the very beginning. I devoted myself to it throughout my youth and adolescence, balancing classical high school with studies at the “Tito Schipa” Conservatory in Lecce, where I earned my diploma in harp at the age of 17.

My desire to refine my skills led me to continue my studies at the same Conservatory, where in 2011 I obtained a Second Level Academic Diploma in the soloist program. During this time, my wish to experience musical realities beyond those of my home region led me to study abroad through the Erasmus Program, thanks to which I attended the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussels under the guidance of harpist Jana Bouskova.

At just 18 years old, I began immersing myself in the orchestral world, collaborating with various orchestras such as the Orchestra of the Petruzzelli and Theatres of Bari Foundation, the ICO Tito Schipa Orchestra of Lecce, and the Lucanian Symphony Orchestra. The idea of being part of something much bigger than myself, of being surrounded by the immense sound of the orchestra, made me fall in love with that world—so much so that I decided to specialize further in this field.

I moved to Düsseldorf, initially for study, then for work. I was a trainee harpist with the Duisburger Philharmoniker, and during the 2015/2016 season, I was contracted as “Solo Harfenistin” (Principal Harpist) with the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, at 100% capacity. In February 2017, I earned a Master’s degree in Orchestral Performance under the guidance of harpists Fabiana Trani and Sophie Schwödiauer at the “Robert Schumann Hochschule” in Düsseldorf, in collaboration with the Orchesterzentrum in Dortmund.

On a flight from Düsseldorf to Milan, I met Giorgio, who is now my husband, and it was to be with him that in 2017 I moved to Clivio, a small village in the province of Varese, near the Swiss border.

I have continued to collaborate with numerous orchestras in Italy and abroad. I have performed under the baton of renowned conductors such as Adam Fischer, Michail Jurowski, Axel Kober, Pinchas Steinberg, Marcus Bosch, Markus Poschner, Jonathan Webb, Krzysztof Urbanski, Nicola Luisotti, Donato Renzetti, Lior Shambadal, and Michael Sanderling. I have worked with orchestras such as the RAI National Symphony Orchestra in Turin, the Carlo Felice Orchestra in Genoa, the Orchestra of the “La Fenice” Theatre in Venice, and the Giorgio Bernasconi Ensemble of the “Teatro alla Scala” Academy in Milan, among others.

Since 2019, I have been Principal Harpist with the Sicilian Symphony Orchestra in Palermo, and I regularly collaborate with several orchestras, including the OSI (Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana) in Lugano, the Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale in Bologna, and the Toscanini Orchestra in Parma, among others.

In May 2023, I earned a Master of Arts in Music Pedagogy from the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano, under the guidance of Professor Lorenza Pollini.

Throughout my professional journey, I have refined my craft with several internationally acclaimed harpists, including Fabrice Pierre, Anna Sophie Bertrand, Luisa Prandina, Irina Zingg, Marie Pierre Langlamet, Margherita Bassani, Gabriella Dall’Olio, Patrizia Tassini, and others. I have won numerous national and international competitions, both in duo (harp and cello or harp and flute) and as a soloist—among them, the First International Harp Competition Nicanor Zabaleta in 2014.

Alongside an intense orchestral career, I also pursue solo and chamber music projects in various ensembles, collaborating with both Italian and international associations. Among the concerts closest to my heart are the one in 2022 with the Tiaré Ensemble, performing Debussy’s Trio for Flute, Viola, and Harp, his Danses, and Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro; my 2016 solo performance of Handel’s Concerto op. 4 No. 6 with the “Sinfonietta Köln” Orchestra in Cologne (Germany); the 2010 performance of Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Concertino op. 93 with the Collegium Musicum Orchestra in Bari; and the 2009 performance of Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp KV299 with the Harmonium Chamber Orchestra in Lecce.

Since 2022, I have been a harp professor at the “G. P. da Palestrina” Conservatory of Music in Cagliari. A sea lover at heart, I now look out at the mountains from my hillside home, and I am a proud mother of two wonderful little girls.