“Pianista di rara intelligenza…che sprizza salute e ottimismo…la tastiera di De Simone si è fatta bella dei colori più accesi, un vero organo a corde…” (“Pianist of rare intelligence…that radiates health and optimism…. the keyboard of De Simone has made beautiful vibrant colours, a true organ chords … “)Il Giornale dell’Umbria- Stefano Ragni
“Sergio is a born artist and musician capable of holding the listener’s attention thanks to his very personal and creative musical imagination….” (J. Achucarro)
“Sein pianisticher und musikalicher Horizont ist weit gestreckt…” His musical and pianistic horizont extend widely” (A. Lonquich)
Sergio De Simone was born in Florence (Italy) .
He is Head of Keyboard Studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London (UK), Guest Professor at KUG (University for Music and Performing Arts, Graz, Austria) and Associate General Editor for the Bärenreiter Rachmaninoff Critical Edition.
Active solo and chamber pianist, he performs for prestigious music societies in Italy, Spain, France, United Kingdom, Austria, France, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, USA, Argentina, Brazil, Chile (La Società dei Concerti in Milan, Amici della Musica in Florence, Mozarteum in Salzburg, Pisa Theater, Metastasio Theater of Prato, Amici del Teatro Comunale of Florence, Amici del Conservatorio of Parma, Harris Auditorium in Memphis, International Music Festival in Torroella de Montgrì-Barcelona, Accademia Musicale Chigiana di Siena - Settimana Musicale Senese, Associazione “A.Scarlatti” in Napoli, Sagra Musicale Umbra, Mills College Hall in Oakland, Chigiana Academy in Siena, “Valli” Theatre in Reggio Emilia, “Bellini” Theatre in Catania etc.). As a soloist he performed with the Romanian State Orchestra, the Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto, the Meadows Symphony Orchestra, Camerata Strumentale-Città di Prato, Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana, Sarajevo Philarmonic Orchestra, and the "Solisti di Città Lirica Orchestra" of Pisa etc., conducted by Anton Nanut, Paul Philips, Alessandro Pinzauti, Augusto Vismara, Jonathan Webb, Giovanni Bartoli, Giuseppe Camerlengo, Daniele Giorgi etc. His repertoire includes Piano Concertos by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms, Ravel, Grieg, Shostakovic, Chopin.
Sergio is a very active pedagogue: he taught Piano at Gesualdo da Venosa Conservatoire in Potenza, Mascagni Conservatoire in Livorno (Italy) and from 2013 at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London. He is regularly invited to give master classes in Italy, Uk, Austria, USA, Croatia, Bosnia, Austria, India and Singapore etc. for major musical Universities. Many of his students won prizes in international competitions.
He studied piano with Giuseppe Tanzini and chamber music with Franco Rossi, cellist of the famous Quartetto Italiano. In 1995 he graduated from the Arrigo Boito Conservatory of Music of Parma with the highest marks, Laude and Honorable Mention.
He attended master classes with Murray Perahia, Aldo Ciccolini, Philippe Cassard, Bruno Canino, Christopher Elton, Alessandro Specchi e Pier Narciso Masi. In 1995, ‘96 and ‘98 he was part of Joaquin Achucarro’s Summer Festival in the Chigiana Academy in Siena where he was awarded of the Diploma di Merito, the Guido Agosti, the SIAE and the E. Contestabile scholarships.
In January 1996 De Simone began studying with Joaquin Achucarro at Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX) as an Artist Diploma student, recipient of the Joel Estes Tate Scholarship. In 1996-97 he won the Don Nobles Award for accompanying and in 1998 the Von Mickwitz Prize for piano and the Soloist competition.
