Nicola Gandolfo
Nicola Gandolfo (b. 2001, Chioggia, Italy) is an Italian keyboard player specializing in historically informed performance on the organ and harpsichord.
After graduating with highest honours in Organ from the F. Venezze Conservatory in Rovigo, he completed his Master's degree in Harpsichord and Historical Keyboard Instruments at the Civica Scuola di Musica "Claudio Abbado" in Milan, where he studied with Lorenzo Ghielmi. He subsequently earned a Master of Arts in Music Performance with highest honours at the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana in Lugano, in the class of Stefano Molardi, where he further developed his expertise in organ performance alongside continuo playing and ensemble direction.
As part of his studies, Nicola spent an Erasmus year at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest, studying organ, improvisation and harpsichord with Pálur János, László Fassang and Borbála Dobozy.
Driven by a broad musical curiosity, he is also pursuing orchestral conducting studies at the Italian Conducting Academy in Milan under Gilberto Serembe, whose artistic and personal mentorship has played a significant role in his development.
His artistic training has been further enriched through masterclasses and academies with leading specialists, including Florian Birsak at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, as well as Olivier Baumont, Ton Koopman, Francesco Cera, Roberto Loreggian and Nicola Lamon, with a particular focus on the music of Frescobaldi, J.S. Bach, Monteverdi and Vivaldi.
Nicola maintains an active career as both a soloist and continuo player on the organ and harpsichord. He has performed throughout Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia and Japan, appearing at prestigious venues and festivals including Expo 2025 Osaka, the Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano, Teatro Massimo Palermo, Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, Società del Quartetto di Milano, Amici della Musica di Padova, Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice, Serate Musicali di Milano, Castello Sforzesco in Milan, the Pavia Baroque Festival, Accademia Chigiana in Siena, the Museo Nazionale Rossini in Pesaro and the Concert Hall of the Liszt Academy in Budapest.
His distinctions include the Diploma di Merito at the Accademia Chigiana (2024), First Prize as continuo player with the Orchestra Nazionale Barocca dei Conservatori (Rome, 2024), selection as continuo player for the Orchestra Tartini Transfrontaliera (Udine, 2024), Second Prize at the Wanda Landowska International Harpsichord Competition (Terlizzi, 2023), and the Jury Special Prize at the G. Gambi International Harpsichord Competition (Pesaro, 2022).
As a continuo player, he has recorded Alessandro Scarlatti's Stabat Mater for Vatican Radio and has also taken part in a recording project for BIS Records with the ensemble Seicento Stravagante.
Deeply committed to chamber music and ensemble performance, Nicola places particular emphasis on improvisation and basso continuo, which he considers the very foundation of his musical approach.
After graduating with highest honours in Organ from the F. Venezze Conservatory in Rovigo, he completed his Master's degree in Harpsichord and Historical Keyboard Instruments at the Civica Scuola di Musica "Claudio Abbado" in Milan, where he studied with Lorenzo Ghielmi. He subsequently earned a Master of Arts in Music Performance with highest honours at the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana in Lugano, in the class of Stefano Molardi, where he further developed his expertise in organ performance alongside continuo playing and ensemble direction.
As part of his studies, Nicola spent an Erasmus year at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest, studying organ, improvisation and harpsichord with Pálur János, László Fassang and Borbála Dobozy.
Driven by a broad musical curiosity, he is also pursuing orchestral conducting studies at the Italian Conducting Academy in Milan under Gilberto Serembe, whose artistic and personal mentorship has played a significant role in his development.
His artistic training has been further enriched through masterclasses and academies with leading specialists, including Florian Birsak at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, as well as Olivier Baumont, Ton Koopman, Francesco Cera, Roberto Loreggian and Nicola Lamon, with a particular focus on the music of Frescobaldi, J.S. Bach, Monteverdi and Vivaldi.
Nicola maintains an active career as both a soloist and continuo player on the organ and harpsichord. He has performed throughout Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia and Japan, appearing at prestigious venues and festivals including Expo 2025 Osaka, the Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano, Teatro Massimo Palermo, Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, Società del Quartetto di Milano, Amici della Musica di Padova, Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice, Serate Musicali di Milano, Castello Sforzesco in Milan, the Pavia Baroque Festival, Accademia Chigiana in Siena, the Museo Nazionale Rossini in Pesaro and the Concert Hall of the Liszt Academy in Budapest.
His distinctions include the Diploma di Merito at the Accademia Chigiana (2024), First Prize as continuo player with the Orchestra Nazionale Barocca dei Conservatori (Rome, 2024), selection as continuo player for the Orchestra Tartini Transfrontaliera (Udine, 2024), Second Prize at the Wanda Landowska International Harpsichord Competition (Terlizzi, 2023), and the Jury Special Prize at the G. Gambi International Harpsichord Competition (Pesaro, 2022).
As a continuo player, he has recorded Alessandro Scarlatti's Stabat Mater for Vatican Radio and has also taken part in a recording project for BIS Records with the ensemble Seicento Stravagante.
Deeply committed to chamber music and ensemble performance, Nicola places particular emphasis on improvisation and basso continuo, which he considers the very foundation of his musical approach.
Since 2026, he has served as Harpsichord Accompanist at the Giuseppe Tartini Conservatory in Trieste.
