Marco Ramelli

Born in Milan (Italy), Marco has graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with a Masters Degree of Performance (APEL) with Distinction under the supervision of Prof. Allan Neave. Marco began studying the guitar at nineteen year old with Prof. Andrea Dieci. In just seven years he graduated as a private candidate from the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatoire of Music in Milan and obtained a second level postgraduate diploma (with full marks and magna com laude) at the Luca. Marenzio Conservatoire of Music in Darfo Boario Terme (Italy). Marco obtained further postgraduate diploma in "Chamber Music" with full marks; all in addition to a bachelor's degree in Computer science. He has participated in masterclasses throughout Europe with world-renowned guitarists such as Pavel Steidl, Oscar Ghiglia and the japanese harpist Naoko Yoshino.. Marco is currently a Doctorate student at the RCS. Marco's research is focused on contemporary music for guitar, particularly on the works by the Scottish composer Thomas Wilson and on new compositions expressly written for this project. The aim of the research is to explore the potential of the guitar, working in close interaction with composers and guitar makers. During his career he has been awarded various First Prizes in international competitions all over Europe, including the inaugural "Scottish International Guitar Competition" at the Glasgow Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the "Governors' Prize for Strings", the "Blas Sanchez" competition in Spain, the "Città di Seveso" competition, the "Rocco Peruggini" competition, the Riviera Etrusca competition. In addition, he won the second prize in the renowned International Seville Guitar Competition (Spain) and in the "Concours guitare espagnol" in Albi (France). He was finalist of the Gredo San Diego competition in Madrid (Spain). Marco regularly performs in Italy, Spain, Turkey and the UK and recently made his USA debut in Los Angeles. His concertistic career also includes performances at several international music festivals, including the "Stagione Internazionale della Chitarra di Lodi", the "Big Guitar Weekend" in Glasgow, the "Guitar Master" in Brighton, "Concerti al Castello Sforzesco" in Milano, Festival Internazionale di Lagonegro, the "Edinburgh Fringe Festival", the "Ullapool Guitar Festival" and the "Tolmen International Guitar Festival" in Cornwall. As a composer, Marco won the prestigious "World Guitar Composition Competition" in Serbia with his composition "Im Nebel, homage to Kengiro Azuma" His music is performed in Italy and abroad by internationally acclaimed soloists and ensembles including Andrea Dieci, Marta Dolzadelli, Duo Ricci-Colonna, Sasha Savaloni, and Juliane Bergemann. As a keen advocate of contemporary music, Marco has established fruitful and continuous collaborations with some composers. It is especially worth mentioning its first recording of pieces by Blas Sanchez (ES), Rory Boyle (UK), Sergio Sorrentino (IT) and Tomas Marco (ES). His debut album "Energico" was released by Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Nimbus Alliance in 2013 with music of Paganini, Llobet, Boyle and Takemitsu. Classical Guitar Magazine wrote about the recording: "A major step towards international recognition from a young guitarists with much to offer". He has also made recordings for Naxos, Dynamic records and Radio of Las Palmas. But his dedication to music is not only confined to his performances: Marco is also Artistic Director of some music festivals in Italy - for instance the increasingly important Festival Corde d'Autunno in Milan in collaboration with the Sistema Italia - as well as a very enthusiastic guitar teacher. From 2004 to 2014 he inspired the creation of more than sixty events that have evolved a lot of young artists. Among other activities, Marco regularly teaches in courses and masterclasses organized each years in some of the most beautiful Italian countryside and mountains, including the "Suono, Chitarra e Natura" and "Corso estivo città di Sulbiate e Mezzago". In 2015 he was assistant in the Summer Guitar Course of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. From October 2015 he teaches "guitar ensemble" at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and guitar to some students of Music of University of Glasgow.