Cecilia Chailly

Cecilia Chailly is an Italian harpist, composer, singer and writer known for expanding the modern harp repertoire across classical, jazz and popular music. Born in Milan, she developed an international career that spans solo performance, orchestral collaborations and experimental projects, participating in festivals and recordings across Europe and the Americas. Her work intersects with figures from the classical, jazz, literary and film worlds, establishing links with major institutions and contemporary composers.

Early life and education

Born in Milan to a musical family connected to the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia tradition and the Conservatorio di Milano, she trained under teachers associated with the Royal Academy of Music and with masters linked to the Paris Conservatoire. Early influences included encounters with musicians tied to the La Scala tradition and pedagogues associated with the Juilliard School and the Royal College of Music. During formative years she participated in masterclasses sponsored by organizations like the European Union Youth Orchestra and foundations related to the Fondazione Arturo Toscanini and the Accademia Musicale Chigiana.

Musical career

Her concert career brought performances in venues associated with the Teatro alla Scala, the Concertgebouw, the Carnegie Hall circuit and festivals such as the Venice Biennale, the Aix-en-Provence Festival, the Edinburgh Festival and the Salzburg Festival. She appeared with ensembles connected to the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, the Berlin Philharmonic’s soloists, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and chamber groups linked to the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Collaborations included recitals alongside artists from the Glyndebourne and partnerships with conductors associated with Riccardo Muti, Zubin Mehta, Claudio Abbado and Valery Gergiev. Touring brought engagements in concert series sponsored by the British Council, the Alliance Française, the Italian Cultural Institute and broadcasters such as the BBC, RAI, Deutsche Welle and Radio France.

Compositions and collaborations

Her compositional work connected with composers from the 20th Century lineage and collaborators tied to the Contemporary music scene, engaging artists associated with Ennio Morricone, Ezio Bosso, Ludovico Einaudi and improvisers linked to the ECM Records milieu. She created new works for film projects associated with directors connected to the Venice Film Festival, the Cannes Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival. Collaborations extended to writers and poets from circles around Italo Calvino, Umberto Eco, Dario Fo and contemporary authors who have engaged with multimedia projects at institutions like the Civic Academy of Musical Studies and the Fondazione Giorgio Cini. She worked with jazz figures associated with Enrico Rava, Paolo Fresu, Stefano Bollani and improvisers from ensembles linked to the New York Jazz Workshop. Cross-disciplinary projects involved choreographers and companies connected to the La Scala Theatre Ballet, the Royal Ballet and contemporary dance festivals like RomaEuropa Festival.

Discography and recordings

Her recordings appear on labels in dialogue with the European classical and contemporary catalogues, intersecting with discographies that include artists from Deutsche Grammophon, Warner Classics, Sony Classical and niche labels akin to Discmedi and independent producers tied to the ECM aesthetic. Albums feature repertoire from baroque to contemporary, including commissions and world premieres associated with ensembles connected to the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, chamber partnerships with musicians active in the Kronos Quartet orbit and recorded sessions involving producers linked to studios used by artists on the Island Records and Mercury Records rosters. Her recorded output has been broadcast by networks such as BBC Radio 3, RAI Radio and France Musique and featured in curated compilations alongside performers from the Philharmonia Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra and soloists tied to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Awards and recognition

She has received recognition from cultural institutions aligned with the Ministry of Culture (Italy) honors, prizes related to conservatories like the Conservatorio di Milano and awards bestowed at festivals such as the Venice Biennale and competitions associated with the International Harp Contest. Her contributions have been acknowledged by academies linked to the Accademia dei Lincei, the Italian Senate cultural committees and foundations resembling the Fondazione Cini and the European Cultural Foundation. Honors include grants and commissions from organizations affiliated with the European Commission cultural programs, prizes from societies connected to the Società Italiana del Teatro Musicale and distinctions cited by institutions similar to the Giulio Einaudi Foundation.

Category:Italian harpists Category:Italian composers Category:Musicians from Milan