The Italian composer Federico Ermirio was born in Genova in 1950. After humanistic studies and University (Architecture) he focused on Music; studied Composition and Choir Music at the State Music Conservatory in Genova, under the guide of Sergio Lauricella. Further he followed advanced studies with Goffredo Petrassi at the “Accademia di Santa Cecilia” in Rome (1977 – 79). He studied also Conducting with Daniele Paris, later with Otmar Suitner at the Hochschule für Musik in Wien (1980 – 82). He was awarded numerous prizes at important International Composers Competitions such as; Angelicum, Guido d’Arezzo, Marinuzzi, Stockhausen, Bucchi, Filarmonica Umbra, Kucyna Prize (Boston), Trio Basso Wettbewerb (Frankfurt), Olympia Prize (Athens), New Music Composers (New York).
In 2005 he was awarded the Ibla Grand Prize (New York) as “best composer of the year”, introducing “Alata (ash on the shore)” for violin and orchestra. His piece “Il Sogno” for soprano and Orchestra has been choosen as recommended work at the Uuno Klami Competition in Finland (2013) and in 2016 his piece for Choir “Era'l Sogno, Era il Mattino” was one of the winners of the VocalEspoo Helsinki. Other recent acknowledgments at Andrey Petrof and Alfred Schnittke competitions etc...
He took part in many International Festival: Nuovi Spazi Sonori (Roma), Antidogma (Torino), Spaziomusica (Cagliari), Musica 2000 (Ancona), Incontri Europei con la Musica (Bergamo), Sagra Musicale Malatestiana (Rimini), Romaeuropa festival, Nuova Musica Italiana (Roma), Europhonia
(Zagreb), Ecume (Marseille), Festival Internazionale di Musica Contemporanea (Alicante), Ultima ’92 (Oslo), Kissinger Sommer, Eté Italienne (Géneve), Studio für Neue Musik (Wurzburg), Festival of Satu Mare (Roumania), International week of New Music (Bucarest), Festival Ensemble 2E2M (Paris), Internazionale Stuttgarter Gitarrentage. Wochenende für Neue Musik (Bayreuth), Chopin Museum (Warsawa), Festival di Maratea… Again, his music has been performed throughout Europe (London, Bamberg, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Madrid, Sevilla, Las Palmas, Nice, Vitasaari, Athens,,,) and outside (Melbourne, Tokyo, Porto Alegre, Boston…). He received commissions by following groups, soloists, orchestras: Ensemble europeo Antidogma, Quartetto di Asti (Guitars), Musik Unserer Zeit –
Wurzburg, Ensemble ‘900 – Amsterdam, Duo Contemporain – Rotterdam, Eder Quartet – Budapest, Romamusica Ensemble, Trio Bosio – Pomarico – Von Wrochem, Repertorium Ensemble – Bucarest, Hellenic Group for Contemporary Music, Orquesta Sinfonica de Porto Alegre, Orchestra del Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova, Orchestra Milano Classica, I Solisti Aquilani, Alea III, University of Georgia Symphony Orchestra, University of Georgia Wind Symphony, Orchestra de Salta (Argentina), Boston University Strings, North-South Consonance / Chamber Orch (New York), M. Turriziani, E. Benzi, M. Masciadri (doublebass), A. Plotino, M. Carbotta (flute), G. Vercillo, M. Tarenghi, M.G. Bellocchio, E. Audino (piano), D. Filippone, L.Biscaldi, J. Ruck, F. Sala (guitar), A. Campbell, R. Parisi (clarinet), Duo Moneta-Rota (piano four hands), Ring Around Quartet, Hideyo Nagumo (soprano) and others.
Some of his works are edited by BMG Ariola / Ricordi, Edipan, Tirreno, Rivo Alto, Tau – Kay, Sonzogno, Berben, Pro Musica Studium; recorded on CDs and broadcasted by public and private networks in Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Holland, France, Greece and Brazil. Federico Ermirio has been tenured professor in Choir Music, Composition, respectively at the Conservatories of Cagliari, Genova and La Spezia. From 1990 to 2012 he has been Director of the State Music Conservatory “Antonio Vivaldi” in Alessandria.
He is also active in international Music events; Art Director of the international Composers Competition “M. Pittaluga” and founder of the “Werther – Emilio Benzi” national Competition for Double bassists. He’s invited in Jury of well-known international Competitions in Italy and outside.
His catalogue of compositions range from pieces for solo to chamber music, choral and symphonic works, music for the stage, performed throughout Europe (Oslo, Helsinki, Paris, London, Rome, Milano, Alicante, Lviv...), North and South America (New York, Boston, Porto Alegre, Salta...), Australia and Japan. He has been organizing for years cycles of concerts, lectures, international projects etc… with a special assiduous interest in the diffusion of the modern and contemporary repertoire. He's the founder and the artistic director of the international “sibeliusfestival – golfo del Tigullio” (Liguria – Italy) and founder – president of AkREibA music association.