Mario Ciferri

Mario Ciferri was born in Fermo (FM) – Italy. 

His extensive studies led him to receive Diplomas with brilliant results in Piano, Organ, Orchestral Conducting, Harpsichord (with first-class standings) and Sacred Music (cum laude) from the “G.B.Martini” Conservatoire in Bologna, the “S.Cecilia” Conservatorie in Roma and the “G.Rossini” Conservatoire in Pesaro, where he studied Composition too. 

He enriched his music education by attending numerous specialization courses in Italy and abroad which won him the approval of internationally famous music teachers such as Ch.Stembridge, G.Litaize, L.F.Tagliavini, M.Radulescu, R.Marini, A.Sacchetti for organ, as well as concert-prizes; G.Acciai, M.Boschini, P.Righele, W.Marzilli, L.Donati, S.Woodbury, M.Berrini, G.Baroffio, D.Tabbia for choral music. He is the winner of a scholarship awarded to him by the prestigious “Rossini Foundation” of Pesaro in 1993. Furthermore, he is the winner of National and International Competitions, receiving the second prize (the first one was not assigned) at the XIV National Organ Competition in Noale (Venezia) in 1990 and the second prize at the “Fratelli Bernasconi” First International Organ Competition in Olgiate Olona (Varese) in 2003. 

Pupil of the conductor Manlio Benzi, subsequently he took the Diploma at the Triennal Course of High specialization in Conducting with Donato Renzetti at the Music Academy in Pescara.

He performs regularly as organist into the most renowned International Organ Festivals in Italy and abroad plaing in the most famous Concert Halls and Cathedrals: France (Bordeaux, Lyon, Montpellier), Germany (Fulda, Herford, Saarbrucken, Rheda, Karlsruhe, Pforzheim, Darmstadt, Ottobeuren, Ingolstadt, Wiesbaden), Austria, United Kingdom (St.Paul’s and Temple Church in London, Lincoln, Rochester, Edinburgh), Czech Republic, Slovakia (Bratislava), Poland (Warsaw, Poznan, Wadowice, Legnica), Switzerland (Lausanne), Denmark (Copenhagen, Odense), Finland, Spain, Belgium (Brugge), Sweden (Lund, Malmo), Lithuania, Russia (St.Petersburgh, Ekaterinburg, Perm Philarmonias) and Siberia.

His big repertory goes from Ancient Music to Modern Music and includes the most important pieces by D.Buxtehude, J.S.Bach, F.Mendelssohn, A.G.Ritter, F.Liszt, J.Reubke, M.Reger, S.Karg-Elert, C.Franck, C.-M.Widor, L.Vierne.  

Among organ concerts there are numerous inaugurations of restored historical organs in Italy and he also has presented first modern performances of composers from Marche Region: A.Cruciani, G.B.Mastini, B.Bittoni, C.A.Cristiani, L.Vecchiotti and others.  

He has several times collaborated as organist with such orchestras as The Virtuosos of Bucarest, the International Orchestra of Italy, the Chamber Orchestra of Marche and the Philarmonic Orchestra of Marche, taking part in symphonic Festivals. 

In 2004 he recorded a CD about complete organ works by Luigi Vecchiotti (1804-1863) for recording label “La Bottega Discantica” in Milano, as the first world recording. 

He recorded also a CD as organist in “Oratorio de Noël” op.12 by C.Saint-Saëns with Chamber Orchestra of Marche for recording label “Sheva”, and he took part in the DVD “Terra d’organi” playing on historical organs in Region Marche.

As Choir and Orchestra Conductor he works with several baroque ensembles, Italian orchestras and choirs performing with success great compositions by J.S.Bach, G.F.Händel, M.A.Charpentier, W.A.Mozart, A.Vivaldi, B.Galuppi, G.Fauré, C.Saint-Säens, ecc. with famous artists too. In 2006 A.R.CO.M. (Regional Association of Choirs in Marche) invited him to conduct the selected Regional Choir performing Requiem KV 626 by W.A.Mozart and Motets by B.Britten in several concerts, one of them was at “Teatro alle Muse” in Ancona. In 2014 he won the First Prize at “A.Guanti” International Choral Competition in Matera and also the special prize for the best performance of a piece composed by an Italian contemporary author.

In 1998 he won the National Competition for exams and titles and so he is teacher of Organ, Gregorian Chant and Harpsichord at the “G.B.Pergolesi” Conservatoire of Music in Fermo. 

He is the titular organist in St.George’s Cathedral in Porto San Giorgio where he is also the Artistic Director of the International Organ Festival.