Agnesi
International Music Competition
International Music Competition
Kids Jury
Kids Jury
Rossella Ghezzi began studying the piano at a young age. She continued her studies at the Scuola Musicale di Milano under the guidance of M° Elio Cantamessa (pianist of the Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala), graduating in 2003 under Prof. Anna Verderio at the "Niccolò Paganini" Conservatoire in Genoa. She attended advanced piano courses with M° Luciano Lanfranchi and began teaching in 1994, developing a deep passion for music education.... In 2004 she collaborated on the Propedeutics Course at the Scuola Musicale di Milano, accompanying flute students in chamber ensembles and performing in piano duo with her own teacher. In 2015 she accompanied the children's choir directed by M° Giovanni Casanova. Since 2003 she has been Piano Professor at the Scuola Musicale di Milano, specialising in piano teaching for pre-school and primary school children. Since 2018 she has also been Music Education teacher at the "Istituto Zaccaria" state-accredited primary school in Milan. Many of her pupils have participated in national and international piano competitions, winning numerous first prizes, earning her Merit Diplomas as a teacher. In 2024 she won the Best Teacher Award at the International Piano Competition Città di Minerbio; in 2025 she was invited to serve on the jury of the Concorso della Rosa. Since 2018 she has taken part in summer study courses in Tuscany in Pietrasanta (LU) and Lamporecchio (PT). She has attended numerous continuing education courses and training seminars, including: the Hungarian music education course "The Kodály Concept in Early Childhood Education" by Giusi Barbieri; "The Training of the Young Pianist" by Prof. Luisa Grillo; "Piano Pedagogy" by M° Annibale Rebaudengo; "Montessori Method and Music" by Isenarda De Napoli; "Choral Conducting and Vocality" with Gabriele Conti and Paola Lopopolo; "Sound, Music and Movement Level 1" with Armando Pace; "Music in All Its Senses" Level 1 with Laura Fermanelli; "Piano Pedagogy" seminar with Serena Galli; "Music for Little Mozarts" Levels 1 and 2; "Piano Workshop: Technique and Expressivity" with M° Giuseppe Devastato; "Introduction to Music Moves for Piano"; "E. Gordon's Music Learning Theory"; "Music and Dyslexia" by M° Mauro Montanari; "Music in Frame" with Chiara Strada; "The Dyslexic and Music from Primary School to Conservatoire" with Matilde Bufano; "Dalcroze Eurhythmics" seminar with Laura Catania and Mariapia Catellazzi; "Disability and Early Childhood: Music and Singing", "Singing and Early Childhood" and "SLD and Music" with Alessio di Paolo.
Laura Gianantonio, born in Varese, began her musical studies at the age of 10. She pursued piano studies alongside her commercial and economics education, graduating in her instrument under the guidance of Prof. Alessandra Napoli Favata and M° Eli Perrotta at the "Luca Marenzio" Conservatoire in Brescia in 2000. From 1995 she attended masterclasses and interpretation courses both as a full participant and auditor with Paul Badura-Skoda, Boris Petrushansky, Alberto Baldrighi, Bruno Canino, Lazar Berman and Rinaldo Rossi.... She was also a full student for seven years on M° Eli Perrotta's interpretation courses at the Centro Asteria in Milan, where in 2001 she won the end-of-year concert in piano duo. To deepen her musical knowledge, in 2001 she enrolled in the composition course at the "Nicolini" Conservatoire in Piacenza, in the class of M° Carlo Alessandro Landini, which she attended for two years. She has performed on several occasions at a regional level, as a soloist, in piano duo and in chamber ensembles. In the summer of 2000 she collaborated with the wind orchestra of the "Nicolini" Conservatoire in Piacenza. Following her academic and advanced piano training, she developed a strong interest in music and piano pedagogy for children. She attended the XXI National Piano Teaching Course by M° W. Fischetti at the SPM "Donna Olimpia" school in Rome; "The Training of the Young Pianist" by Prof. Luisa Grillo at the "J. Du Pré" school in Minerbio; piano pedagogy courses by M° Roberto Prosseda and M° Maurizio Baglini at the "Sinfonia" school in Lucca; "Piano Pedagogy" Levels I and II by M° Annibale Rebaudengo at the Accademia Marziali in Seveso; "Vademecum for Pianists" by Vincenzo Balzani; and the seminar "Bach's Keyboard Works" Modules I and II by M° Marco Gaggini. She completed the methodological training course "Basic Music Education 1–2" by M° Bruno Foti, focused on teaching for the new theory examinations at the Como Conservatoire. She keeps constantly up to date on music teaching methodologies for children, regularly attending courses and seminars including "I Grow with Music" Levels I and II at the Accademia Marziali in Seveso; the AIGAM course "Music in the Nursery and Pre-school" Levels I and II; "Music and the Montessori Method" with Isenarda De Napoli; "Musicasifaracconto" with Anna Pedrazzini; "Music for Baby Mozart" and "Music for Little Mozarts – Levels I–IV" with Beatrice Mansi Montenegro. For many years she has been actively teaching at music schools in the province of Varese. She has collaborated as a piano and music theory teacher with "Music Secrets" in Gavirate, "Accademia Vivaldi" in Vergiate, the "G. Verdi" Foundation in Luino and the "Gaetano Marziali" Academy in Seveso. Since 2001 she has been a music theory and piano teacher at the "Pietro Bertani" Music Academy in Luino, of which she is also a founding member. Since 2020 she has been a piano teacher at the "Niccolò Paganini" Music Schools in Legnano. Since 2022 she has collaborated with the "Musica per Varese" Cooperative as a piano teacher and coordinator of branch locations. From 2001 to 2005 she worked as a supply music teacher at various state schools in the province, and from 2016 to 2017 as an external piano specialist for children aged 6 to 14 at the Istituto Comprensivo in Cunardo. In collaboration with libraries and local authorities she carries out music outreach activities, leading courses in music history and interpretation as both presenter and pianist ("Music and Impressionism", "Bach at the Piano", "Romanticism in Music and Literature", "The World of Childhood in Piano Music"). Since 2019 she has run the music and art introductory workshops "Le Musifiabe" and the sensory music workshops "Music in Every Sense" at the Accademia Bertani in Luino and the educational farm "Parco Fior di Fiore" in Cassano Valcuvia. In 2023 she began a new collaboration with Anna Castellazzi for the publication of the book "La Fabbrica dei suoni" with the publisher Rupe Mutevole.
Sara Pelliccia, pianist and Artistic Director of AccaMIdea, a piano school specialising in early childhood music education in San Mauro Torinese, graduated with the highest honours, distinction and honourable mention from the "F. Morlacchi" Conservatoire in Perugia under the guidance of M° Michele Rossetti and Giovanna Petrucci. She attended numerous multi-year advanced courses with M° Paolo Bordoni at the Accademia Musicale Pescarese, Carla Giudici at the Arts Academy in Rome and the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris, Elizabeth Sombart at the Associazione Résonnance in Rome, and Federico Gianello at the Steinway & Sons Society in Verona.... She holds a degree in Art History with the highest honours from the American university "John Cabot University" in Rome, with an original thesis on Felix Mendelssohn as a painter. She also obtained with the highest honours a Master's in Music Education and the Contemporary Dimension from the University of Roma Tre. Passionate about music pedagogy, she keeps abreast of the latest methodologies and repertoires for teaching piano to children and young people. Her pupils regularly participate in national and international piano competitions, consistently placing among the top positions, and sit conservatoire entrance exams and assessments at a very young age with excellent results. She has won numerous teaching awards for the high number of pupils who have been prize-winners at prestigious competitions in Italy and abroad, including the National Piano Competition "G. Rospigliosi", the International Piano Competition of Minerbio, the National Piano Competition "J.S. Bach" in Sestri Levante, the Music and Stars Awards (USA), the Rocky Mountain Piano Competition (Canada) and the VIII International Piano Competition Smeredevo. Alongside her teaching activity, she performs as a solo pianist in Concert-Shows conceived and written by herself, in which she combines music, acting and performance, bringing different forms of artistic expression into open dialogue. She is also active as an organiser of cultural events, presenter and music educator at her own centre and at various Italian arts associations.
A unique opportunity for pianists of all ages: from children taking their first steps on the keyboard, to professional performers. The competition celebrates the legacy of Maria Teresa Agnesi, a pioneer of female culture and music, with the aim of enhancing talent, passion and interpretative depth. Sections dedicated to piano initiation, categories divided by age and a section dedicated to piano interpretation, offer each candidate a real opportunity for musical and artistic growth. It is not just a competition, but an educational and inspiring experience, where each participant is encouraged to express their voice through the piano. Prizes, concerts, scholarships and an international jury of excellence await you.
The regulations of the Agnesi International Piano Competition are designed to ensure clarity, fairness and valorization of talent in every phase of the competition. The categories are divided by age group and level of preparation, offering each participant the opportunity to express themselves in a way that is consistent with their musical path.
The tests will take place in person at Villa Borromeo in Arcore, in a welcoming and inspiring environment, and will be evaluated by a highly qualified jury.
There are sections dedicated to children taking their first steps on the piano, to young students, up to professionals in piano interpretation.
Awards that enhance talent, at any age.
The Agnesi International Piano Competition rewards piano excellence with scholarships, award concerts and special recognitions designed to enhance every musical path.
The winners of the various categories will have the opportunity to perform in prestigious concert contexts, receive financial support for training, and benefit from the visibility offered by an international competition.
Particular attention will be paid to the section of young pianists, with personalized educational awards, special mentions and moments dedicated to artistic encouragement, to accompany with enthusiasm and delicacy the first steps in the world of music.
