Erica Piccotti, born in Rome in 1999, demonstrated remarkable musical talent early in her life, graduating summa cum laude with honors in cello from the Santa Cecilia Conservatory of Music in Rome at the age of 14 under the guidance of Francesco Storino. She furthered her studies with Antonio Meneses at the Hochschule der Künste in Bern and at the Walter Stauffer Academy in Cremona. Since September 2017, she has been pursuing a Master of Music at Kronberg Academy, studying with Frans Helmerson.
Throughout her career, Piccotti has participated in numerous masterclasses led by esteemed musicians, including Antonio Meneses, Frans Helmerson, David Geringas, Mario Brunello, Julius Berger, Thomas Demenga, Alfredo Persichilli, and Christophe Coin. She has achieved significant recognition in both national and international competitions, securing first prizes at events such as the "Premio Nazionale delle Arti," organized by Italy's Ministry of University and Scientific Research, where she earned the title of "Best Cellist of the Italian Conservatories." Other accolades include the "Premio Città di Padova," "Yugend Musiziert" in Nuremberg, and the "NYIAA Competition," which led to her performance at Carnegie Hall in New York. Additionally, she won the "10th International Competition Antonio Janigro" for young cellists and received recognition at the "Premio Crescendo" in Florence. In September 2017, she was awarded the 2nd prize at the International Johannes Brahms Competition in Pörtschach, Austria.
Her accolades also include the "Premio Giannuzzi" as the best cellist in the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in 2012, the Rotary Club Rome prize in 2014, the "Banca Monti dei Paschi di Siena" prize for young talents at the Accademia Chigiana di Siena in 2015, the "Inner Wheel" prize in 2015, and both the “Memorial Tullio Besa” and “Rotary Club Cremona” prizes in 2016. She has received scholarships from “De Sono Associazione per la Musica,” the “Foundation Boubo-Music,” and “Filarmonica della Scala,” and since 2017, she has been supported by the “Associazione culturale Musica con le Ali.”
Piccotti has performed at prestigious festivals, including the "Janigro Festival" in Porec, the “Festival des Nuits du Chateau de la Moutte” in Saint Tropez, the "Festival de Cordas and Piano" in Belo Horizonte, the "Festival La lumière du Roman" in Conques, the "Aurora Festival" in Vänersborg, the "International Cello Festival Alfredo Piatti" in Bergamo, the Rome Chamber Music Festival, the "Festival dei Due Mondi" in Spoleto, the “Chigiana International Festival” in Siena, the “Pietre che Cantano” festival in L’Aquila, and “Rovigo Cello City.” She has also performed for organizations such as the “Accademia dei Cameristi,” "Agimus," and "Micat in Vertice," where she played a 1682 Stradivarius cello owned by the Accademia Chigiana di Siena, as well as an Antonio Stradivari Stauffer cello from 1700 at the “Violin Museum” in Cremona.
As a soloist, Piccotti has collaborated with orchestras including “I Solisti di Zagabria,” “Orchestra I Pomeriggi Musicali,” “Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzese,” “Orchestra Sinfonica del Estado del México,” and “Orquestra Jovem Vale Música.” She was also selected by CIDIM, the Comitato Nazionale Italiano Musica, for the project “Nuove Carriere.” In chamber music, she has performed alongside notable musicians such as Antonio Meneses, Mario Brunello, Augustin Dumay, Louis Lortie, Miguel Da Silva, Massimo Quarta, Bruno Giuranna, Salvatore Accardo, Danilo Rossi, Bruno Canino, Andrea Lucchesini, and Robert McDuffie.
In April 2018, her first CD recording with Warner Classics, featuring pianist Itamar Golan, became available. On March 8, 2013, she received the Certificate of Honor "Alfiere della Repubblica" from the President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, in recognition of her outstanding achievements in music at a young age.
Erica Piccotti plays a cello crafted by Francesco Ruggeri in Cremona in 1692, generously loaned to her by the “Fondazione Micheli” of Milan.
