Michelle Candotti obtained a piano diploma with top marks while attending the Dell’Abaco Conservatory of Verona at the age of 14. She also received a master’s degree with distinction and Artist Diploma from the Royal College of Music studying with Professor Dmitri Alexeev, and a master’s diploma at the Imola Academy studying with Professor Enrico Pace.
Prizes at international competitions include Second Prize and Audience Prize at the International Piano Competition “A. Scriabin,” Second Prize at the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition, Second Prize at the XXIII Roma International Piano Competition and Third Prize at the Brescia Classica International Piano Competition.
Recently, Michelle was a Semi-Finalist at the 18th Chopin International Competition (Warsaw), Prizewinner at the important 5th Maj Lind Competition (Helsinki), Second Prize at the German Piano Awards (2022), Third Prize and Audience Prize at the XVII International Competition Grand Prix Animato (Parigi), and Winner of the Steinway & Sons Förderpreis Klassik (2023).
Michelle has played with several internationally renowned ensembles, including the Bacau Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra della Toscana, Orchestra Sinfonica Città di Grosseto, Royal Philharmonic Concerto Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Goldoni Theatre Foundation, and many others.
She has presented many recitals, playing in important concert halls such as Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Royal Albert Hall in London, Athenaeum Romano in Bucharest, Bologna’s Manzoni Theatre and Mozart’s Room, Verdi Theatre in Pordenone, Padova’s Hall of the Giants, Sinfonia Varsovia Hall in Warsaw and Hastings’ Stables Theatre. Michelle also gave a concert for the President of the Italian Republic at the Presidential Palace, streamed live by RAI, the national radio.
Michelle is now studying under the supervision of Carlo Palese and attends the Konzertexamen course at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater of Hamburg with Professor Hubert Rutkowski. She is supported by the Stiftung Flügel-Fundus.