Giulia Falzarano: a perfect score in Rome, and a proud moment for the Cuomo Foundation

At the 35th Roma International Piano Competition, Italian pianist Giulia Falzarano was awarded the Absolute First Prize in the Emerging Pianists Section with a perfect score of 100/100.

For the Cuomo Foundation, a long-standing supporter of the competition, this achievement is a celebration of exceptional talent, dedication and the opportunities that allow young artists to flourish.

Born in Naples in 2005, Falzarano began studying piano with her mother, Anna Izzo, at the “Mille e una nota” musical academy in Airola. At just five years old, she won her first international competition. Since then, she has earned numerous first prizes, including at competitions in Oleggio, “Luigi Denza,” “Vietri sul Mare,” “Città di Viterbo,” “Città di Bucchianico,” “Crescendo,” “Nino Rota” and “Città di Minerbio.” Her artistic development has been guided by distinguished pianists and teachers, including Pasquale Iannone, Benedetto Lupo, Francesco Nicolosi, Matteo Fossi and Giuseppe Andaloro.

© Orchestra Filarmonica di Benevento

Her career extends well beyond the competition circuit. Falzarano has performed in recitals and with orchestras at venues and festivals across Italy, including concertos by Mozart and Chopin. In 2025, she performed Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Wrocław University Orchestra at the Aula Leopoldina in Poland, followed by a solo recital in Lubań. She has also attended prestigious masterclasses with artists such as Marc-André Hamelin and Ronan O’Hora. In 2026, she was selected as one of just six pianists worldwide for the Festival dei Due Mondi’s Spoleto Festival Academy.

A graduate with top marks and an honorable mention from the Niccolò Piccinni Conservatory in Bari, Falzarano continues her studies there with Pasquale Iannone. 

The Roma International Piano Competition provides an important international platform for emerging musicians. Since 2004, the Cuomo Foundation has served as the main sponsor in Rome, supporting Fondazione Marcella Crudeli, the organization behind the competition and its mission to promote young pianists.

The Foundation warmly congratulates Giulia Falzarano on this outstanding accomplishment and wishes her continued success in the next stages of her musical journey.

C.P.