Sara Bennici

Sara Bennici graduated in cello at the Luigi Cherubini Conservatory in Florence under the guidance of Franco Rossi and in baroque cello, with full marks and honours, at the Guido Cantelli Conservatory in Novara. After having collaborated with some of the main Italian orchestral institutions (Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Orchestra della Toscana, Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale RAI, Opera di Roma) and having studied the contemporary repertoire also as a soloist, for over 20 years she has dedicated herself mainly to baroque performance practice. From the meeting with Gaetano Nasillo a path of rediscovery and valorization of the Italian repertoire of the 16th and 18th centuries began. Together they have performed many concerts throughout Europe and in Japan in various formations and have recorded some CDs dedicated to the history of the cello repertoire in Italy, widely recognized by international critics: The Sonatas op.1 by Salvatore Lanzetti (Amadeus Prize of Year 2006), the Sonatas of Antonio Caldara, In viaggio verso Breslavia, Nel Giardino di Partenope and In the shadow of Vivaldi.

She also collaborates, also as principal cellist, with renowned specialized groups such as Ensemble Zefiro, I Barocchisti, Ensemble Aurora, Accordone, Ensemble 415, Concerto Romano, Concerto Madrigalesco, Accademia degli invaghiti, Concerto Soave and others, with whom she participates in major festivals and seasons across Europe.

Very active in teaching she currently teaches at the Liceo Musicale Lagrangia in Vercelli and at the Dedalo Music School in Novara, participating in important inclusion projects according to the principles of the Venezuelan “Sistema”of youth orchestras.

From 2013 to 2024, she was co-founder and organizer, together with Ludovica Scoppola, of the Urbino Musica Giovani course for young people, born within the FIMA courses with the aim of introducing younger people to the principles of historically informed performance practice. She has recorded over 20 CDs for Zig Zag Territoires, Ambroisie, Sony, Deutsche Harmonia Mundi and Arcana and has been a guest several times on live Rai radio broadcasts such as Piazza Verdi, La Stanza della Musica, I Concerti del Quirinale and on Radio France for Le Morning of Musicians. He plays a Barak Norman cello from around 1710.