ITALIAN
«Appreciated for their brilliant technique, the quality of their sound, the passion, and the elegance of their interpretive choices, the Imbesi Zangarà duo, both a couple in art and in life, is considered by critics and audiences as one of the most interesting chamber guitar ensembles..» October 2019 | M.Today
It was December 12, 2010, when we met for the first time at the Conservatory, two students, both assistants to the Guitar chair. The director invited us to give a concert ten days later. Playing together was very easy and natural for us; we were amazed by this.
So on December 22, our guitars took the stage together for the first time, and from that moment on, we never stopped. Degrees, Master Classes, Master’s Degrees, Awards, Teaching. Always together.
Victories and failures, good and bad experiences: the latter necessary and vital, never frightened us. Together we have never been afraid to fall. Today, we are a family.”
Carmelo and Carmen met musically in 2010.
Seeking to deepen the original repertoire and the technical-executive aspects of chamber duo formation, they entrusted their improvement to Masters Giovanni Puddu and Giampaolo Bandini, with whom they underwent a profound journey of artistic maturation aimed at enhancing the stylistic-executive and aesthetic-interpretive unity that characterizes their performances and their identity as performers.
They attend Master Classes and Didactic Seminars with Masters Angelo Gilardino, Giulio Tampalini, Eduardo Isaac, David Murgadas […]. In the Jazz and Fingerstyle fields: Francesco Angiuli, Massimo Varini, Luca Colombo.
Today they are present in Festivals, Concert Seasons, and Cultural Events in Italy, Europe, and Asia (Theater of Netda (China), Suzhou Concert Hall (China), Suqian Grand Theater (China), Lantian Grand Theater (China), Jiaxing Grand Theater (China), Liuzhou Culture and Art Center Concert Hall (China), Naxos Winter Festival, Umbria Classica, Teatro Greco di Taormina, Teatro Greco-Romano di Catania, Tao Art Festival, Campus Afam, Teatro Placido Mandanici, Teatro Trifiletti, Teatro Rendano, Teatro Ariston Sanremo, Teatro Grandinetti, Igualada (Spain), Teatro Jalari, Teatro Donna-Fugata, Teatro Politeama, Teatro Falcone-Borsellino, Conservatorio di Latina, Festival Giorgio Gaber […]) and are appreciated for their captivating sound, the elegance of their interpretive choices, and the passion of their performances.
They collaborate in operas (I Pagliacci by R. Leoncavallo, Misa Criolla by A. Ramirez) and theatrical productions both as performers and as authors and performers of stage music (in 2015 for the monologue Novecento based on the texts of A. Baricco directed by Ivan Bertolami, in 2018 for Jonathan Livingston Seagull based on the texts of R.Bach, directed by Giuseppe Spicuglia, since 2012 they have been in charge of the arrangements for the tribute show to Giorgio Gaber, Me & Mr. G Non è il Classico Gaber present at the Gaber Festival 2014, in 2017 for the Mediterranean Song by Mario Incudine), ranging across genres like jazz and world music and collaborating with artists such as Peppe Servillo, Mario Incudine, Coro Lirico Siciliano, Orchestra a Plettro città di Palermo, Coro Overture, Antonio Vasta […].
Their passion for their instrument also leads them to expand the chamber duo repertoire through transcriptions and revisions of many works not originally conceived for this formation. Their compositions, arrangements, Urtext, and methods are published by Da Vinci Edition, JK Mertz Edition, Bergmann Edition. They are also editors of critical editions for Suvini Zerboni – Sugar Music Editions. In 2022 they edited the critical edition of the manuscript “Rondo Von Paganini”, the first historical witness of arrangements of Niccolò Paganini’s music for two guitars found in the Rischel & Birket-Smith Collection of the Royal Library of Denmark in Copenhagen. In 2023, the critical edition of the Grand Duo Concertant for two Lyres or two Guitars by Federico Moretti, based on the original manuscript of the work.
Several composers such as M. Alexander, C.F. Defranceschi, R. Iervolino […] have dedicated new works for guitar to their duo and world premieres.
In 2017 they founded, for the Wambooka Srl brand, the Zarim Chamber Trio with percussionist Giorgio Rizzo, a crossover project that uses Middle Eastern percussion in classical music.
They are winners of musical competitions, both as soloists and as a duo, among the most recent being the 2018 Ibla Grand Prize.
In 2018, they received the prestigious Gattopardo Ibleo prize, awarded to Sicilian personalities who have distinguished themselves for their talent (2018 Golden Book). In 2019, they received the Grotta di Polifemo award from the Milazzo International Film Festival for the Music Section (2019 Golden Book).
We are a family, and Music is our Home.
It’s an idea of dialogue and continuous interaction between us and our guitars.
Two instruments that describe moods and soundscapes, which come together to seek a common identity and move apart to shed light on their own.
An interpretation that knows the historical practice of execution but distances itself to offer a current vision of the classical language, with a sound idea linked to the present but capable of evoking the past.
Classical Music is a language useful to the performer to tell who they are and what they feel when playing a work.
We don’t share the idea of being servants of Music: playing while limiting oneself means killing one’s sensitivity and identity. And respecting the identity of an artist is an extremely important value for us.
We play because Music completes us, makes us feel good, and allows us to talk about ourselves.
In 2020 they set music to the verses of Rai journalist Adriana Pannitteri in collaboration with the publisher Okmond Publishing, and, at the invitation of the Municipality of Palazzo Adriano, the village that became the set in the 1980s for the film Cinema Paradiso by Giuseppe Tornatore, they are the protagonists of the four celebratory video clips for the 30th anniversary of the Oscar and dedicated to the memory of Ennio Morricone, in which they perform a suite based on the music from the soundtrack transcribed for two guitars, in the same locations featured in the film.
They are recording artists for the Classical Music 3.0, Stradivarius, and Inri Classic / Universal Music Italy record labels. Their production, alongside monographs based on the guitar duo repertoire, includes a path aimed at enhancing unpublished and rarely frequented repertoires for this formation. Among the albums released: Hermann Ambrosius Complete music for two Guitars and Concerto, Francesco da Milano Complete Duets, Noir Love: Takemitsu for Guitar Duo, Nuovo Cinema Paradiso EP, Painted Stories: Impromptus for Two Guitars (original music), Gismonti Duets, Tocando en Dos (music by Tarrega, Aguado, Arcas), Six Musical Colors Live (music by Dowland, Mertz, Albeniz, Giuliani, Brouwer), Emilio Pujol Guitar Duets, and the single pieces Pomelie Miniature for Two Guitars and Mi Virgen de Guadalupe in homage to the miraculous Mexican Virgin. These two works have been dedicated by the composer Carlo F. Defranceschi to their duo, and Mi Virgen de Guadalupe also sees Carmen in the role of singer.
Since 2021, they have been part of the roster of Metatrongroup Management for the record label INRI CLASSIC, in the capacity of authors of unpublished music, and they debuted in January 2022 with the single “Rainy Sunset memories from a picture” inspired by Sicilian and Calabrian sunsets. In June 2022, “Tears of War” was released, inspired by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, distributed by Universal Music Group Italy, and it received a letter of recognition from Pope Francisco. In October 2023, their third single “Whispers” was released, dedicated to inner dialogues.
Both have been teaching at various Italian Conservatories since 2010 (Teramo, Matera, Nocera Terinese, Caltanissetta…). Currently, they teach at the F. Torrefranca Conservatory in Vibo Valentia and the A. Scontrino Conservatory in Trapani.
Their passion for teaching leads them to integrate their education through the study of Neuroscience. They are indeed Life-Coaches, specialized in coaching for musicians, certified by the NLP Society of USA by Richard Bandler.
They have collaborated with posturologists, specialized centers (IPS of Naples – Centro Fisiotrainer), and experts in postural wellness on issues related to musicians’ pathologies through the initiative “Musicians, Posture, and Body Music.”
In 2019, they became endorsers of the myofascial therapeutic glove for musicians Myo-Glove, produced by Wambooka srl.
Invited to campuses, masterclasses, and international training courses, they not only deepen repertoire and technical-mechanical enhancement but also address issues related to teaching methodology, posture and biomechanics, entertainment law and management, and executive performance management.
Artistic directors of Festivals (Classicamente 2011-2017, International Musicart Campus…) and training institutions, in 2013 they founded the J.K. Mertz Guitar Academy based in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto (Me), a didactic, research, and cultural promotion center.
In 2019, the Academy officially became a European company for Erasmus+ students in the music sector of the European Institute of Training and Research EProjectConsult.
Carmen contributes to some web magazines with columns dedicated to the entertainment world and holds a degree in foreign languages, nurturing her passion for singing since childhood. She is the frontman of the event band Blue Mood where, in addition to singing, drawing inspiration from the great voices of Mina, Giorgia, and Silvia Mezzanotte, she plays bass, keyboards, and guitar.
Carmelo is a lawyer in Entertainment Law and Copyright Law, registered with the Bar Association of Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto (Me). He provides consultancy and manages artistic productions. He is also a Lyrics author.
Endorsement
2010 Liuther W.C. Rosso
2012 Aquila Corde Armoniche
2019 Myoglove by Wambooka
2024 Guitalift
2024 Martinez Guitars
Last Awards
2018 Gattopardo Ibleo Prize Golden Globe 2018
2018 Ibla Grand Prize E.Gismonti Special Mention
2019 Milazzo International Film Festival Golden Globe
2019 ERASMUS+ Teachers and Coaches
2023 ERASMUS+ Teachers and Coaches
About us:
«Valid musical qualities with highly qualified original interpretations. The harmony shown by the duo during the concert played a key role in the correct execution carried out according to the correct rules of interpretation». (Strumenti & Musica)« A special mention for the depth of their interpretations of the works of Edgberto Gismonti » (Ibla Gran Prize Giury)« I attended one of their concerts last July in Sicily. It turned out to be one of the deepest and most touching musical experiences I have ever had! Their chemical and musical interaction is simply genuine and so authentic.» ( M. Alexander – Composer)« A wonderful duo, I have been to some concerts... all wonderful. Musically, in repertoire and performance. The audience greatly appreciated it, and personally, I was ecstatic.» ( S. Martemucci – Tenor)« I immediately appreciated their talent and was captivated by their art of playing, which is not common to everyone, so I decided that one day I would reward them, and so it was. We must support real talent and reward those who truly deserve it.» (A. Campo – FilmMaker)« The two artists explored the repertoire of six historical-musical periods, showing, as on a palette, the melodic, timbral, and coloristic facets. Dowland, Giuliani, Albeniz, Mertz, Brouwer, and Bellinati were united by rigorous and attentive interpretations but also full of the pathos and deep understanding that characterize the duo's style. » (Ciao Classica )
CARMELO IMBESI
He was born in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto (Messina), Sicily.
As a child, he has nourished his education through drawing, poetry, music, dance and theatre. He approached the guitar world when he was 10, having his first experiences as a self-taught person and in several bands.
After Classical Gymnasium graduation, he graduated at “P.I. Tchaikovsky” Conservatoire in Nocera Terinese (CZ) with the top marks and the publishing right of the double extracurricular thesis “Le Rossiniane: lo stile giammai conosciuto”. Then, he got the Master of Music Degree in Music Disciplines with the top marks cum laude, with the thesis “Manuel de falla: Poeta dell’Anima Spagnola”. In 2009 he obtained a fellowship at the Conservatory as Guitar assistant professionship.
Today, his studies concern themes related to Aesthetics and Music Phenomenology, also including fields expanding his knowledge such as Jazz, World Music, Improvisation and Composition.
He already gave many concerts during the studies period, regularly holding recitals as a soloist, in chamber music groups. He plays in a duo with the M. Carmen Zangarà since 2010 improving with the M. Giovanni Puddu and M.Giampaolo Bandini, with whom he obtained a two-year Master of chamber music.
Different paths that he has been engaged in a constant search on instrumental teaching, also made through the study of Neuroscience (he earned, in fact, the NLP Licensed Practitioner certification in the educational field, joining the Richard Bandler’s NLP Society of USA), learning from the Trainers Stefano Santori and Giacomo Bruno, and proprioceptive knowledge, applied to the relationship with the musical instrument, to posture (he studied with the Personal Trainers Giuseppe Torre and Gerardo Martino integrating Mezières, Feldenkrais, Anderson, Alexander, Pnf and similar methods) and to the executive performance, leading him, to practise coaching for musicians.
Moreover, he studied the themes of Negotiation and Selling, Webmarketing, Leadership, Team Bulding, Personal, Professional and Financial Education with several nationally well-known NLP Trainers (Raffaele Galasso, Giacomo Bruno, Roberto Re, Stefano Santori).
He is professor in many Italian Music University since 2011. He is the president of the “J.K. Mertz” Guitar Academy, located in Barcellona P.g., that he founded, together with Carmen Zangarà, in 2013.
In addition to the academic program, he graduated in Legal Studies in 2009 at the Law at the University of Messina with the thesis: “La crittografica: L’arte di non farsi Capire”.
He earned the Five-years Master’s Degree in 2015 with the thesis: “Licenze Creative Commons: Verso il Copyright 2.0”.
He obtained the Show Business Law’ Master with Altalex Counseling and currently practises the profession of legal advisor and assistant in Show Business Organisation and Legislation, and Copyright at the Alfano-Imbesi Law Firm in Barcellona P.g., also regularly holding seminars on subject.
He love Books, Cinema, Poem, Sport (Body Building and Boxe), Travel, Meditation, Gaming and the Elegance.
CARMEN ZANGARA’
She was born in Seregno an showed an aptitude for music through singing and curiosity towards sounds from an early age, in fact spending many hours playing with the various musical instruments found in her home.
His father Vittorio, drummer and musician, seeing in her a natural ability to practice instrumental and an ear capable of immediately reproducing any melody, takes her with him during his evenings and begins to bring her closer to the study of music.
At the age of eight she moved to Vibo Valentia, in Calabria, his family’s country of origin, where he officially began his career with the guitar at the Musikè Academy (VV), followed by the M. A. De Rito and the M. Francesco Locane.
She continues her study at Vibo Valentia’s Conservatory with the M Marco Rossetti and the M. Simonetta Camilletti, until the meeting with M. Giuliano Macrì, who guided her towards the graduation at “P.I. Tchaikovsky” Conservatory and with whom she started the study on teaching, becoming Assistant.
She got the Master of Music Degree in Music Disciplines in 2013 with a thesis in Teaching Methodology entitled: “Emilio Pujol e Abel Carlevaro: un confronto didattico”. She got degree in ” MODERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES at Carlo Bo University in Urbino whit a thesis about the relationship between Music and Poetry during the 900’s Spain Litterature.
She improved both as a Soloist and in Chamber Music with the M° Giovanni Puddu and Giampaolo Bandini, with whom he obtained a two-year Master of chamber music.
Today, her studies concern themes related to Teaching Methodology, Didactics and Propedeutic.
She is professor in many Italian Music University since 2011.
Her activity as a teacher is intense and she gave many concerts as well, both as a soloist and in chamber music groups, in fact, she took part in important international campus and festivals: Naxos Winter Campus, Campus AFAM ,Festival Atto Unico of Noto, Festival Giorgio Gaber, Umbria Classica, TaoArte, Festival Orchestre a Plettro, Lamezia Classica, besides standing out in National and International competitions, both in Italy and Spain, for her music talent.
Many paths engaged her in a constant research on instrumental teaching, also made through the study of Neuroscience (she earned, in fact, the Licensed Practitioner certification in NLP in the field of education, joining the Richard Bandler’s NLP Society of USA), learning from the Trainers Stefano Santori and Giacomo Bruno, and proprioceptive knowledge, applied to the relationship with the musical instrument, to posture (she studied with the Personal Trainers Giuseppe Torre and Gerardo Martino integrating Mezières, Feldenkrais, Anderson, Alexander, Pnf and similar methods) and to the executive performance, leading her, to practise the profession of Music & Life Coach (from 2013 onwards the references of her services can be found on Canale Formazione.com too).
She obtained the Master in Show Business Law with Altalex Counseling in 2014.
She is the Vice-President and the Artistic Director of the “J.K. Mertz” Guitar Academy, based in Barcellona P.g., that she founded, together with Carmelo Imbesi, in 2013.
She is frontman of the event band Blue Mood where sing (inspired by the great voices of Mina, Giorgia and Silvia Mezzanotte) plays bass, guitar and keyboards.
She loves reading, writing, traveling, cooking, flowers, elegance and sport.