Erica Piccotti, born in Rome in 1999, graduates in cello at only 14 years old summa cum laude with honours at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory of Music in Rome with Francesco Storino. She continues her studies with Antonio Meneses at Höchschule der Künste in Bern and at Walter Stauffer Academy in Cremona. Since September 2017 she attends the Master of Music at Kronberg Academy with Frans Helmerson.
She has attended Masterclasses with Antonio Meneses, Frans Helmerson, David Geringas, Mario Brunello, Julius Berger, Thomas Demenga, Alfredo Persichilli, Christophe Coin. She won first prizes in national and international competitions including "Premio Nazionale delle Arti" run by Italy's Ministry of University and Scientific Research, earning herself the title of "Best Cellist of the Italian Conservatories”, "Premio Città di Padova", "Yugend Musiziert" Nuremberg, "NYIAA Competition" whose victory allowed her to perform in Carnegie Hall in New York, "10th International Competition Antonio Janigro" for young cellists and at "Premio Crescendo" in Florence. On September 2017 she won the 2nd prize at the “International Johannes Brahms Competition” in Pörtschach, Austria.
She also won in 2012 the "Premio Giannuzzi" as the best cellist in the Santa Cecilia Conservatory, in 2014 the “Rotary Club Rome” prize, the prize "Banca Monti dei Paschi di Siena" for the young talents of the “Accademia Chigiana di Siena”, in 2015 the "Inner Wheel" prize, in 2016 the “Memorial Tullio Besa prize” and “Rotary Club Cremona” prize. She was awarded the Scholarship of “De Sono Associazione per la Musica”, “Foundation Boubo-Music”, and “Filarmonica della Scala”, since 2017 she is supported by the “Associazione culturale Musica con le Ali".
She performed in prestigious festivals, "Janigro Festival" in Porec, “Festival des Nuits du Chateau de la Moutte” in Saint Tropez, "Festival de Cordas and Piano" in Belo Horizonte, Festival "La lumière du Roman" in Conques, "Aurora Festival" in Vanersborg, "International Cello Festival Alfredo Piatti" in Bergamo, Rome Chamber Music Festival, Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, “Chigiana International Festival” in Siena, Festival Internazionale, “Pietre che Cantano” in L’Aquila, “Rovigo Cello City”. She performed also for “Accademia dei Cameristi”, "Agimus" and "Micat in Vertice", where she played a 1682 Stradivarius cello property of the Accademia Chigiana di Siena, “Violin Museum” in Cremona where she played cello Antonio Stradivari Stauffer 1700.
As soloist she played with “I solisti di Zagabria”, “Orchestra I Pomeriggi Musicali”, “Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzese”, “Orchestra Sinfonica del Estado del Mèxico”, “Orquestra Jovem Vale Mùsica”. She was selected by CIDIM, Comitato Nazionale Italiano Musica, for the project “Nuove Carriere”. She has given performances as chamber musician with Antonio Meneses, Mario Brunello, Augustin Dumay, Louis Lortie, Miguel Da Silva, Massimo Quarta, Bruno Giuranna, Salvatore Accardo, Danilo Rossi, Bruno Canino, Andrea Lucchesini, Robert McDuffie.
From April 2018 is available the first cd recording with Warner Classic playing with pianist Itamar Golan.
On 8th March 2013, the President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano has awarded her the Certificate of Honor "Alfiere della Repubblica" for outstanding achievements in music obtained at a very young age.
She plays a cello Francesco Ruggeri (Cremona, 1692) kindly loaned by the “Fondazione Micheli” of Milan.
2018 © Erica Piccotti
