Stefano Moccetti is a guitarist from Lugano, Switzerland. He studied at the University School of Music in Lugano under Lorenzo Micheli, earning his Master’s in Music Performance in 2019. During his studies, he won first prizes in several competitions, including the Swiss Youth Music Competition (Bern) and the Concorso Rovere d’Oro (Italy).

He has attended masterclasses with world-renowned guitarists such as Aniello Desiderio, Pavel Steidl, and Jonathan Leathwood. His rigorous training at the Lugano Conservatoire provided him with a strong foundation in music theory and ear training, both essential to shaping his artistic identity.

Driven by a strong creative instinct, Stefano is deepening his connection with composition, both through collaborations with contemporary composers and by developing his own works.

In 2020, he founded a duo with violinist Anton Jablokov. After gaining recognition in Switzerland, the duo made its international debut in Italy, Ireland, and Germany in 2023. They recorded a CD featuring original compositions and arrangements for guitar and violin, created in collaboration with Anton Jablokov.

Research description 

Over the past century, the guitar has evolved rapidly. A key figure in this transformation was Andrés Segovia, who elevated the instrument to the status of piano and violin. While this revival brought prestige, it also led to the loss of a more multifaceted guitar culture that thrived in Gitarrenklubs, where guitarist-composer-luthiers and chamber music were more common.

Segovia’s influence shaped the guitar as a primarily solo instrument and deepened the divide between composers and performers. Though he commissioned major works, many composers lacked a deep understanding of the instrument, resulting in less idiomatic repertoire.

Today, the guitar world is once again becoming more diverse, with a renewed focus on guitarist-composers and experimental luthiery. This research draws inspiration from the pre-Segovian era to explore improvisational and collaborative composition, aiming to create a portfolio of idiomatic works developed through close collaboration with top composers and performers.