Biography

Born in Italy in 1997, Francesco Maccarrone studied piano after inheriting his passion for music from his uncle Domenico Clapasson, a pianist and composer. At the age of nine, he was admitted to the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Turin in the class of Claudia Voghera, under whose direction he graduated in 2016 with top marks and honors. In the same year, he obtained his high school diploma at the Binel Viglino Lyceum in Pont Saint Martin, where he lives. He is currently enrolled at the Pinerolo Music Academy with Gabriele Carcano. Since 2018, he has also been studying at the University of Music and Theater in Hamburg with Aleksandar Madžar. 

Francesco attended master classes with the pianists Benedetto Lupo, Andrea Lucchesini, Pavel Gililov and Aleksandar Madžar. He also receives a scholarship from the International Music Academy in Liechtenstein and takes part in the intensive music weeks and activities that take place there. 

He is the first prize winner of numerous competitions. Among other things, he received the 1^st prize at the “4^thPiano Competition La Palma d'Oro” and the 1^st prize at the “Elise-Meyer Competition” in Hamburg in 2021. In 2008, he won the 1^st prize at the "XIII National Instrumental Competition Citta di Giussano", in 2009 the 1^stabsolute prize at the "VII National Music Competition Comune di Cantalupa", in 2010 the 1^st prize at the "XXV National Piano Competition JS Bach - City of Sestri Levante" and in 2013 the 1^st absolute prize at the "XXVIII National Piano Competition JS Bach - City of Sestri Levante". 

Francesco has performed many recitals in various Italian cities, such as Venaria Reale for the Musica a Corte Festival at the Royal Palace and Vercelli for the Camerata Ducale (winning the audience award for the best concert). He also performed in the prestigious Unione Musicale concert seasons in Turin in 2013, 2017 and 2018. In 2015, he opened the concert season of the Turin Conservatory as a soloist with Chopin's First Piano Concerto in E minor Op. 11 with the Orchestra of Conservatory Students conducted by Giuseppe Ratti. He was then invited by the Fiat Managers Group to repeat the same concert at the Lingotto Theater in Turin for the traditional Spring Concert. In 2018, he was invited by the Bahrain Ministry of Culture to a concert in the capital Manamah. 

Francesco has participated in several chamber music collaborations, including with mezzo-soprano Laura Capretti, cellist Davide Maffolini and violinist Francesco Bagnasco. He plays regularly with the violinist Valerio Scarano, with whom he has performed at the Italian Cultural Institute in Oslo. He has been playing the piano trio with violinist Veronika Rädler and cellist Thomas Haas since 2021. 

In 2017, he won the Premio Stefano Tempia and Talenti Musicali grants from the CRT Foundation. Since 2018, he has also received a scholarship from "De Sono".