Aniello Desiderio

Aniello Desiderio began performing publicly at the age of eight, quickly attracting attention for his extraordinary virtuosity and musicality. He went on to win 18 first prizes in national and international competitions, including major awards at the International Guitar Competition in Havana, the Francisco Tárrega Competition in Spain, and the International Guerrero Competition in Madrid.

Desiderio has since built an international career spanning Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa, performing at many of the world’s leading venues, including Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Berlin Philharmonie, Munich Philharmonie, and Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow. As a soloist, he has appeared with numerous orchestras and collaborated with distinguished musicians including Gidon Kremer, Vladimir Spivakov, Angel Romero, and the late Lorin Maazel.

A passionate chamber musician and advocate for new music, Desiderio has inspired works by composers including Roland Dyens, Stephen Goss, Carlo Domeniconi, and Angelo Gilardino. John McLaughlin selected him to give the European premiere of his guitar concerto Thieves and Poets, and Desiderio also gave the European premiere of Sergio Assad’s The Walls for solo guitar and guitar orchestra.

His extensive discography includes recordings for Deutsche Grammophon, Koch-Universal, Brilliant Classics, and GuitarCoop. Equally respected as an educator, Desiderio has taught and given masterclasses internationally, and many of his students have gone on to successful concert careers and major competition victories. He currently serves as Professor of Guitar at the Domenico Cimarosa Conservatory in Avellino, Italy, and is a worldwide Artist Ambassador for D’Addario Strings.