A 2019 NYC Golden Classical Music Awards 1st prize winner, Giancarlo gave a recital at Carnegie Hall in November 2019. Regarded as “unconventional” and “free of guitar stereotypes”, Giancarlo started studying guitar at age 11, graduating with highest honors in 1997 from the Conservatory of Bari under the guidance of Prof. Roberto Lambo. Fundamental to his musical evolution were meetings and master classes with internationally renowned guitarists including Claudio Piastra, Manuel Barrueco and, especially, David Starobin with whom he studied in Italy and in New York. Thanks to the example of his New York teacher, he dedicated himself to the study of the 19th century repertoire on period instruments, in order to reconstruct the original spirit and playing style.
In 1995, while still a student, he won 2nd prize at the National Competition of Ancona. The following year, he won 1st prize at the European Competition of Barletta and was a finalist in the International Competition of Viareggio. In 1998 he was the only guitar finalist in the competition "Best Graduate of the Year '97" in Castrocaro and won the "4th National Competition, City of Castelfidardo".
In 2000 he graduated with honors in Foreign Languages and Literatures at the University of Bari, with a thesis on Peter Maxwell-Davies and the English composers of the 20th century.
He has performed for several music associations (Camerata Musicale Barese, "Niccolò Piccinni" Concert Foundation, Vallisa Auditorium, EurOrchestra, the "G. Curci" Musical Cultural Association of Barletta, Casa Museo Mauro Giuliani, Tadini Academy of Lovere, Gitarren Tage in Vaihngen an Enz, etc.) as a soloist and chamber musician with the “Accademia dei Cameristi " of Bari, the "New European Philharmonic" conducted by Maestro Bepi Speranza and with Prof. Antonino Maddonni, as "Pot-Pourri" guitar duo, playing and promoting 19th century music for guitar and terz guitar.A specialist in the American method for children Music Together®, he is a founding member of the B.A.M. Music Together center, combining concert activity with teaching, also holding concert-meetings on the 19th century guitar repertoire and collaborating with educational institutions in public schools and Italian public schools.
His debut cd “La Rose, 19th century guitar music” was released in 2017, receiving international praises. Giancarlo plays guitars made by the Roman luthiers Mario Rosazza-Ferraris, Marco D’Annibale and replicas of a G. Stauffer and a nine strings G. Ries from 1800 ca. built by the Prague luthier Jan Tulácek.
“La Rose is a really well-executed album of 19th century guitar pieces performed on a period instrument replica. A fine effort that culls a nice variety of pieces by the usual sources and delivers them with both verve and nuance. The playing of a single guitarist who is so clearly devoted to and in command of this material, is delightfully transportative and at often thrilling” (Classical Guitar Magazine)
"La Rose is a recording full of life and warmhearted feelings, with plenty of musical ideas. The instrument sounds great in Giancarlo's hands..." (David Starobin)
“C’è da dire subito, già dall’ascolto della delicata pagina d’apertura di Giuliani, che la scelta operata dall’interprete, di affidare le sue esecuzioni ad uno strumento d’epoca, sembra rispondere veramente ad un reale e sentito trasporto nei confronti dei testi affrontati ed alla loro restituzione nei toni espressivi originari, piuttosto che ad esigenze di comodo o di ossequio, come spesso si ascolta in incisioni del genere. Le esecuzioni, mirabilmente affrontate sia da punto visto tecnico che espressivo, scorrono con naturalezza e un grande afflato espressivo, esaltando di volta tutti gli innumerevoli “affetti” contenuti nelle pagine. Il tutto senza denunciare il minimo sforzo o l’eccessiva enfasi, in un riuscito connubio tra realizzazione strumentale e restituzione in stile dei testi” (DotGuitar.it)
“Un lavoro di fine fattura di un artista maturo, in cui l’aspetto squisitamente lirico ed espressivo cattura l’attenzione e si fa apprezzare nella sua controllata personalità” (Seicorde Magazine)
“...ausgesprochen eloquent, flüssig und gesanglich” (Gitarre und Laute)