PIANIST
BIOGRAPHY
A classical pianist from Rome, Italy, Massimiliano Facchini has been acclaimed as one of the brilliant pianists of his generation. Since his professional debut in 1989 at the Summer Music Festival in Bolzano, Italy, Maestro Facchini concertized throughout Europe, the United States, Caribbean and South America. Mr. Facchini’s pianism has been lauded for his outstanding capacity of expression and interpretation. In November 2005, Massimiliano Facchini, along with his wife, Dominican pianist Claudette Munné, made an artistic contribution of major significance to the world's artistic legacy. This concert duo “made history premiering Merengues with two pianos at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall” (Jack Rico, Univision). The sold out concert was so special that NBC also interviewed the two artists to remark that Merengues were performed with two pianos for the first time in the world. In 2006, following the great response they received in the United States of America, the two artists brought their new music discovery to Europe performing for an audience of 1200 people at the prestigious “Sala Sinopoi” at Parco della Musica in Rome, Italy. In February 2004, Massimiliano Facchini had his New York debut performing to a sold out house in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall after an impressive musical journey. In October 2000, Mr. Facchini concertized at the Mellow Theater in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he was honored by the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The local press also saluted his musical talent with an accolade stating that “his fingers flew across the ivory producing a sound that surely rivals the chimes of heaven” (Electric City, Scranton, Pennsylvania). The Il Tempo called him “an artist of the highest caliber” following his stunning 1998 Roman debut at Teatro Marcello-Concerti del Tempietto Music Festival. Massimiliano Facchini’s recital at the Artistic Center in Granada was described as “a joy, for his great personality, strong musical temperament, and an expressive artistry” (Ideal, Granada, Spain).
Maestro Facchini especially enjoys sharing his music knowledge and talent with students of all ages, skills and backgrounds. He takes pride that his students have been accepted at specialized arts high schools and major conservatories in New York such as the Pre-College Division at Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard School, La Guardia High School and Brooklyn College. Massimiliano Facchini is currently Artistic Director and faculty member at “Belle Arti” Center for the Arts, the first and only music school of European heritage in Forest Hills, New York.
Maestro Facchini’s performances include
- Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York
- Sala Sinopoli at Parco della Musica (Rome, Italy)
- The Mellow Theater in Scranton, Pennsylvania
- Auditorio Dominico Americano in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)
- Auditorio del Palacio Borgiela in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)
- Concerti del Tempietto Music Festival in Rome (Italy)
- Ibla Grand Prize in Ragusa (Italy)
- Villa San Michele Music Festival in Capri (Italy)
- Amalfi Music Festival (Italy)
- Villa Rufolo Music Festival in Ravello (Italy)
- Concerti al Cocumella Music Festival in Sorrento (Italy)
- Osimo Music Festival (Italy)
- Estati Musicali al Castello di Presule in Bolzano (Italy)
- Akademie Konzert in Salzburg (Austria)
- Guzzetta Hall in Akron, Ohio
- Smith Recital Hall in San Diego, California
- Aspen Music Festival in Colorado
- Manaus Opera House in Brazil
- The Spanish Institute in New York
- The Juilliard School
- Manhattan School of Music
- The Bronx Museum of the Arts
- Bronx Community College
- Queens Town Hall
- Brooklyn Music School
He was also featured on WQXR, classical radio station in New York City, and on WVIA, classical radio station in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Massimiliano Facchini has won numerous prizes and awards including the San Diego State University Concerto Competition, the Student Ambassadorial Scholarship Award given by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, and the Ibla Grand Prize.
Massimiliano Facchini recorded a CD featuring music by D. Scarlatti, Mozart, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Lecuona. Maestro Facchini also concertizes with his wife, the Dominican pianist Claudette Munné, as “Two Soloists Together ּ Four Hands Across The Sea.” “Two Souls, one great technique, exceptional phrasing, and an incredible ability to interpret the music they perform. It is a joy listening to them” (America Oggi, USA).
EDUCATION
Massimiliano Facchini graduated Summa cum Laude from the Music Conservatory “Ottorino Respighi” in Italy under the tutelage of Maja Samargieva. Still a student at the music conservatory, he had the privilege to also study with Maestro Rodolfo Caporali whose musical heritage comes from Frédéric Chopin. Mr. Facchini later went on to continue his studies with Boris Block at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Karen Follingstad at the University of Akron and Jerome Lowenthal at the Juilliard School in New York City. He also studied at the Aspen Music Festival under the guidance of Ann Schein, pupil of Arthur Rubinstein. Mr. Facchini obtained a Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance at San Diego State University (San Diego, California) under the tutelage of Karen Follingstad and he later earned a Post-Graduate Diploma at Manhattan School of Music in New York City, studying piano with Nina Svetlanova and chamber music with Isidore Cohen.
EUROPE PIANO STUDIES:
- Maja Samargieva, “Ottorino Respighi” Music Conservatory, Latina. Bulgarian pianist and pupil of Maestro Vincenzo Vitale, the great professor of the Neapolitan piano school.
- Rodolfo Caporali, “Santa Cecilia” Music Conservatory, Rome. His musical heritage comes from the great Polish composer Frédéric Chopin.
- Pieralberto Biondi “Santa Cecilia” Music Conservatory, Rome. Pupil of Carlo Zecchi, the most important Italian pianist after Busoni, and Tito Aprea, professor of the Roman piano school.
- Boris Bloch “Mozarteum” Music Academy, Salzburg. Professor of the Russian piano school.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PIANO STUDIES:
- Nina Svetlanova, Manhattan School of Music, New York. Pupil of Heinrich Neuhaus, one of the greatest teachers of the Russian piano school.
- Marc Silverman, Manhattan School of Music, New York.
- Ann Schein, Aspen Music Festival, Aspen. Pupil of Arthur Rubinstein.
- Jerome Lowenthal, Juilliard School, New York.
- Karen Follingstad, San Diego State University, San Diego.
