Simona graduated in Organ Studies from the Campobasso Conservatory and the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano, where she earned a Master of Advanced Studies in Organ Music Performance and Interpretation with highest honors.
In 2016, she obtained a Master’s degree in Musicology from the Department of Musicology in Cremona, University of Pavia, with a thesis entitled “The Harmonium in Italy: The Printed Repertoire and Its Historical Background,” which included the first catalog of related editions. For this work, she received the biennial “Pierluigi Gaiatto Award” (2018 edition), established by the prestigious Levi Foundation in Venice.
Simona regularly performs at festivals and cultural events, including Hull City Hall, Organ Showcase 2013 (UK); Orgelconcerten in West-Vlaanderen and Ieperse Orgelconcerten, Ieper (Belgium); Les Concerts de Romainmôtier (Switzerland); XXIVème Festival International d’Orgue Alexandre Guilmant, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Boulogne-sur-Mer (France); V Ciclo Internacional de Conciertos Meditaciones en el Órgano Cavallé-Coll de Sevilla (Spain); Kirchenmusik Flensburger Stadtkantorat (Germany); Festival Internacional de Órgão, V Edição 2019, Vila Nova de Famalicão (Portugal); St. Matthew’s International Organ Music Festival, Anykščiai (Lithuania); Festival of Cahman Organ Society, Vänner Föreningen Leufsta & Cahmanorgelns, Lövstabruks 2024 (Sweden); and Lunchtime Recitals at Worcester Cathedral (UK), among others.
In 2014, she founded the original guitar and organ duo, Duo Chorg, together with guitarist A. Fruscella, developing a repertoire based on both transcriptions of original works and a distinctive, highly refined program.
Deeply interested in the history of keyboard instruments, Simona also performs on early and historical keyboards such as the harpsichord and harmonium. She is the author of “L’harmonium in Italia” (Edikit, Collana Pizzicato Verlag Helvetia) and has published organ compositions, transcriptions, and music theory books with the Italian publisher Edizioni Momenti in Ribera.
Her first digital album, “La Voce dell’Organo Italiano,” was released in April 2018. The ten tracks pay homage to Italian organ music and the distinctive timbres of the Italian organ. The album is available on YouTube and on all major streaming platforms.
A dedicated educator, Simona is currently a permanent faculty member at the “A. Scarlatti” Conservatory in Palermo.
