FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana University Jacobs School of Music student Francesco Granata was a prizewinner in the 2021 Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition.
Currently in his first year of Artist Diploma studies with Roberto Plano, Granata tied for sixth prize in what is one of the world’s most prestigious music competitions.
“This year, Francesco was a finalist at the Montreal International Piano Competition and a prizewinner at the Busoni,” said Plano, associate professor of piano. “His path at Jacobs couldn’t have a better start, and I can’t wait to work with him to reach even more prestigious achievements.”
The Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition is held in Bolzano, Italy, and was founded in 1949 by Cesare Nordio in memory of pianist and composer Busoni.
Born in 1998, Granata graduated in piano from Milan Conservatory “G. Verdi” in 2016 with the highest evaluation and special mention. In 2019, he earned a Master Course Diploma from St. Cecilia Academy in Rome under the guidance of Benedetto Lupo.
Granata has attended master classes with Giovanni Bellucci, Pavel Gililov and Alberto Nosè, among others. He has won several competitions, including the Premio Crescendo in Florence, Premio Società Umanitaria in Milan, and Jeunesse Musical International Italian selections.
In 2017, Granata won the XXXIV Premio Venezia, leading to performances across Italy, in Europe, and in India. In 2021, in addition to being a laureate at the Busoni International Piano Competition, he was a finalist at the Montreal International Piano Competition.
Granata made his debut as soloist with orchestra at age 13 and has performed with diverse orchestras and other ensembles since. In 2019, he played with La Fenice Orchestra in Venice, conducted by Jonathan Webb.
In 2015, Granata recorded Lachner’s version for piano and string quintet of Beethoven’s third piano concerto on DVD for Limenmusic studios. In 2018, he recorded his first CD, released as an attachment to Italian music magazine Suonare News.
Granata also studied with Plano in Italy at the Accademia di Pinerolo in 2019-20 and at the Musica d’Estate Summer Music Camp in Bardonecchia this past summer.
The hallmark of the Jacobs School of Music Piano Department is its distinguished faculty, who come from all over the world and offer many different philosophies and schools of piano playing.