Cinzia Milani began studying classical guitar at a very young age and graduated from the Conservatorio A. Boito in Parma at the age of eighteen after private studies. She worked with numerous teachers and refined her technique under the guidance of Mauro Storti, later studying interpretative analysis with Argentinian composer Oscar Roberto Casares.
When she was five years old, she won the International Competition of Milan. At the age of seven, she received the Ambrogino d’oro from the Municipality of Milan for her exceptional early musical ability, and at ten she won the Trofeo Beniamino Gigli in Recanati with a score of 100/100. In 1991 she was awarded the Premio F. Margola in Parma for best performance and interpretation. By the age of twelve she had begun her concert career in Italy, later performing throughout the United Kingdom, France, Spain, the United States, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Indonesia and South America.
By the age of fourteen she had won sixteen first prizes in national and international competitions. British and American press described her as “a rare combination of beauty, grace, natural elegance” and praised her “deep sense of music, brilliant technique and powerful expression,” recognising her as one of the notable concert artists of her generation.
Her discography includes recordings for Rai Radio 2 and Antenna 3. In 1994 she collaborated with composer A. Prandi to catalogue previously unpublished guitar music. Tracks from her CD Ritratto di Donna, recorded for the Jump Musical Edition label, have been broadcast on Italian RAI as well as French, German and Japanese national television and films. She also performed as guitarist, dancer and singer in the Argentinian show Sonatango and later recorded a CD of the same name. Her CD Guitar (Amadeus Label) features works by Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Margola, Domeniconi and Prandi, along with pieces written for her by composers Cacciola and Betta.
Cinzia Milani has performed extensively in Canada and the United States and has taught masterclasses at the Royal Conservatory of Toronto. She has appeared in Indonesia and served on the jury of the Valerio International Guitar Festival.
She later created the show Venere, featuring music composed and performed live by her in collaboration with the dance company Performing Danza, exploring the feminine universe through music and dance. In addition to her guitar career, she also plays the violin and has performed with orchestras in Italy, Spain and France.
She has since recorded acclaimed albums, including A Tribute to Ida Presti and a project dedicated to María Luisa Anido, and is a leading advocate for women composers of the guitar.
