Biography
Giovanna Pessi was born in Basel, Switzerland, and began playing the harp at age 7. At the age of 13, she began to play on an instrument by Erard, built in 1800. The experience with this historical harp, its light touch, and unique sound, motivated her to focus her studies towards early music and historical instruments. From 1993 to 1995, Ms. Pessi studied the 18th century pedal harp with Edward Witsenburg in Den Haag. Beginning in 1994, she also studied with Heidrun Rosenzweig at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. In 1998, she won the Basler Hans Huber Stiftung prize and, in 2000, she received the diploma for historical harp of the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. From 2000-2002, Giovanna Pessi studied with the Norwegian Lutist, Rolf Lislevand, at the “Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Trossingen”, Germany. Studying Lute literature from John Dowland to Johann Sebastian Bach allowed her to cultivate and develop her own musical language. She has participated in master classes given by Mara Galassi and Andrew Lawrence King. As a soloist and accompanist Giovanna Pessi performed with groups and conductors such as Ricercar Consort, Christian Wallumrod Ensemble, Ensemble Kapsberger, Concentus Musicus, Les Flamboyants, La Fenice, Konrad Junghänel, Philippe Pierlot, Rolf Lislevand, Harry Bicket, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Marc Minkowski.
