Biography

“He is mature in his interpretation, technically above the material, with intelligent artistry.”
— Sven Arne Tepl, chairman jury Cello Biennale

Stefano Bruno (2000, Italy) is a laureate of numerous international competitions. At the age of 18, he won the gold medal and special prize at the VIII International Cello Competition “David Popper” in Hungary. More recently, in 2022, he won the first prize in the “Cello Biënnale” competition in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Stefano studied cello in the class of Francesco Montaruli and then Giuseppe Carabellese at the Conservatory of Foggia, Italy, where he graduated in 2018 with full marks, honors and mention.

He then continued his studies with Giovanni Gnocchi at the Philarmonic Academy of Bologna and with Francesco Dillon and Paolo Bonomini at the School of Music of Fiesole.In recent years, Stefano Bruno studied at the National Academy of Santa Cecilia in Rome with Giovanni Sollima and at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in the class of Pieter Wispelwey. He graduated from both academies summa cum laude.

In 2022 he debuted at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, both in the Recital Hall (‘Kleine Zaal’) with a solo recital and in the Main Hall (‘Grote Zaal’), by playing Elgar’s Cello Concerto under the direction of Ed Spanjaard.

In 2024, he joined Amsterdam Sinfonietta in Rossini’s “Petite messe solennelle”. In the same year, he will play at the 10th edition of the “Cello Biënnale”. He was selected to take part in a project with Jean-Guihen Queyras after he was awarded the “Anner Bijlsma Award”.

Stefano is also very fond of chamber music. He is a member of the Trio Eidos (piano trio), the Greci-Bruno duo (violin and cello duo), the Opificio Sonoro Ensemble (contemporary music ensemble), and regularly has cello and piano recitals playing with Daniel Kramer.

Stefano plays a Rene Jacquemin cello, that was built in Mirecourt between 1925 and 1930.

“He performs with incredible ease and healthy confidence, with a deep knowledge, creativity, brilliance, and energy.”

— Giovanni Gnocchi, cellist

"Convincing and sparkling performance"

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"Star of the Cello Biennale 2022"

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"Incredible curiosity and hunger for learning"

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"Convincing and sparkling performance" - "Star of the Cello Biennale 2022" - "Incredible curiosity and hunger for learning" -

“He goes to any lengths to put into the music what he wants to say with it.”

— Larissa Groeneveld,

jury member Cello Biennale

  • Photo by: Federico Cardamone

  • Photo by: Sarah Wijzenbeek

  • Photo by: Sarah Wijzenbeek

  • Photo by: Marije van den Berg

  • Photo by: Federico Cardamone

  • Photo by: Stephen Hodes

  • Photo by: Julia Severinsen

  • Photo by: Sarah Wijzenbeek

  • Photo by: Ruben Hudnik

  • Photo by: Adrian Medina Salguero

  • Photo by: Stephen Hodes

  • Photo by: Sarah Wijzenbeek

  • Photo by: Sarah Wijzenbeek

  • Photo by: Sarah Wijzenbeek

  • Photo by: Ruben Hudnik