biography
Curious and eclectic musician, pianist Giulia Grassi explores the connections between different musical cultures and styles.
Giulia has performed as a soloist and in several chamber ensembles across Italy, UK, France, Norway, Hungary, China and USA at venues including Accademia Filarmonica Romana (Rome), Pushkin House and the Victoria &Albert Museum (London), FIMU Festival (Belfort, France) Millenaris Theatre (Budapest), the Italian Institute of Culture of Beijing and the Italian Consulate of Guangzhou. She also gave recitals for La Società del Quartetto, Milan, and Il Maggio della Musica, Naples.
After graduating with honours at L. Cherubini Conservatory (Florence) under the guidance of M. Giovanni Carmassi, Giulia obtained her Masters Degree in Piano Performance at the Royal College of Music of London studying with Norma Fisher.
Moreover, Giulia attended international masterclasses studying with pianists such as Robert Levin, Dmitri Bashkirov, Angela Hewitt and Aldo Ciccolini among others. The workshop held by pianist Maria João Pires at Belgais Centre of Arts (Portugal) in 2019 was particularly important for Giulia’s artistic development. The Trust Help Musicians UK supported Giulia with a full scholarship allowing her to attend the workshop.
Giulia’s interest in a wide range of music styles has brought her to approach the field of classical and modern improvisation with organist Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin and with singer and composer Claudia Bombardella.
Curious and eclectic musician, pianist Giulia Grassi explores the connections between different musical cultures and styles.
Giulia has performed as a soloist and in several chamber ensembles across Italy, UK, France, Norway, Hungary, China and USA at venues including Accademia Filarmonica Romana (Rome), Pushkin House and the Victoria &Albert Museum (London), FIMU Festival (Belfort, France) Millenaris Theatre (Budapest), the Italian Institute of Culture of Beijing and the Italian Consulate of Guangzhou. She also gave recitals for La Società del Quartetto, Milan, and Il Maggio della Musica, Naples.
After graduating with honours at L. Cherubini Conservatory (Florence) under the guidance of M. Giovanni Carmassi, Giulia obtained her Masters Degree in Piano Performance at the Royal College of Music of London studying with Norma Fisher.
Moreover, Giulia attended international masterclasses studying with pianists such as Robert Levin, Dmitri Bashkirov, Angela Hewitt and Aldo Ciccolini among others. The workshop held by pianist Maria João Pires at Belgais Centre of Arts (Portugal) in 2019 was particularly important for Giulia’s artistic development. The Trust Help Musicians UK supported Giulia with a full scholarship allowing her to attend the workshop.
Giulia’s interest in a wide range of music styles has brought her to approach the field of classical and modern improvisation with organist Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin and with singer and composer Claudia Bombardella.
Thanks to Claudia Bombardella, Giulia also started singing. Voice became soon her second instrument and she regularly includes it in her performances. Furthermore, the musician is currently studying Harmony and Composition under the guidance of composer Massimo Munari.
In 2016, together with the diatonic accordionist Francesco Berrafato, Giulia founded Duoende.
The duo aims to find a common language between two apparently very different worlds: classical and folk music.
Through both the composition of original repertoire and the arrangement of classical and folk pieces, the duo works on the search for an innovative timbre given by the combination of these two instruments and historical backgrounds.
In 2019 Duoende released the first album: Rosa&Dmitri.
Duoende performed in Italy, UK, France and Norway.
Thanks to Claudia Bombardella, Giulia also started singing. Voice became soon her second instrument and she regularly includes it in her performances. Furthermore, the musician is currently studying Harmony and Composition under the guidance of composer Massimo Munari.
In 2016, together with the diatonic accordionist Francesco Berrafato, Giulia founded Duoende.
The duo aims to find a common language between two apparently very different worlds: classical and folk music.
Through both the composition of original repertoire and the arrangement of classical and folk pieces, the duo works on the search for an innovative timbre given by the combination of these two instruments and historical backgrounds.
In 2019 Duoende released the first album: Rosa&Dmitri.
Duoende performed in Italy, UK, France and Norway.
In 2018 Giulia has been selected with scholarship to attend the Global Musician Workshop held at Depauw University (Greencastle, USA).
The project is an idea by cellist Mike Block and is led by members of the Silkroad Ensemble, founded by the world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The idea is to encourage the encounter among musicians from all over the world and spread the concept of a global and shared culture.
Thanks to this great opportunity Giulia had the chance to play with musicians such as Sandeep Das (Indian classical music), Hankus Netsky (kletzmer music), Bassam Saba (Arabic classical music).
Through the years Giulia was lucky enough to make many inspiring encounters that brought her to develop a very personal style full of colours, influences and always new ideas.
In 2021 Giulia releases her first solo album of original compositions: Drops.
These short compositions of music for picture are snapshots of emotions.
Two pieces of the album have been chosen as soundtrack for La prima donna che, a documentary series broadcast in June 2021 on RAI1, Italian national TV channel.
Together with Jonathan Ferrucci and Silvia Stoppani, Giulia is co-founder of Made in Music, a not for profit organisation that aims to create opportunities for young artists and share music culture.
Since 2015 Made in Music organises music festivals and cultural events.
Giulia takes part in the event as co-artistic director and musician.
In 2018 Giulia has been selected with scholarship to attend the Global Musician Workshop held at Depauw University (Greencastle, USA).
The project is an idea by cellist Mike Block and is led by members of the Silkroad Ensemble, founded by the world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The idea is to encourage the encounter among musicians from all over the world and spread the concept of a global and shared culture.
Thanks to this great opportunity Giulia had the chance to play with musicians such as Sandeep Das (Indian classical music), Hankus Netsky (kletzmer music), Bassam Saba (Arabic classical music).
Through the years Giulia was lucky enough to make many inspiring encounters that brought her to develop a very personal style full of colours, influences and always new ideas.
In 2021 Giulia releases her first solo album of original compositions: Drops.
These short compositions of music for picture are snapshots of emotions.
Two pieces of the album have been chosen as soundtrack for La prima donna che, a documentary series broadcast in June 2021 on RAI1, Italian national TV channel.
Together with Jonathan Ferrucci and Silvia Stoppani, Giulia is co-founder of Made in Music, a not for profit organisation that aims to create opportunities for young artists and share music culture.
Since 2015 Made in Music organises music festivals and cultural events.
Giulia takes part in the event as co-artistic director and musician.