In Search of Sincerity and Sound: Noah Napolitano’s Journey from Young Pianist to Award-Winning Musician
- Feb 26
- 6 min read
Noah Napolitano, a young pianist from Italy, was awarded the Platinum Prize and the Excellent Technique Special Award in the Young Artist category (Ages 14–17) at the Couperin International Music Competition 2025 Season 4. The season took place from 6 August to 6 November 2025, with the official results announced on 27 November 2025. Beyond his remarkable achievement at the competition, Noah’s musical journey reflects years of dedication, curiosity, and artistic growth. We invited him to share more about his background, the mentors who have shaped his path, and the aspirations that continue to inspire his development as both a pianist and a young composer.
Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey in music, for example the schools you’ve studied at, the teachers who have guided you, and how long you’ve been studying, as well as your goals for the future?
Noah Napolitano:
"My musical journey began six years ago, when I was eleven years old. I enrolled in a middle school with a music program almost out of curiosity. At my grandparents’ house there was an old piano, and I started playing it just for fun. Over time, however, that instrument became increasingly important to me, eventually turning into a true passion.
After middle school, I continued studying music in high school, where I met a person who played a fundamental role in my growth: Professor Luigi D’Arienzo. He guided me along my pianistic path, believed in me, and supported me in preparing for this competition as well as many other projects. Thanks to his support and guidance, my passion for music grew stronger and stronger.
At a certain point, I felt that studying music only at school was no longer enough for me. I wanted to go deeper and to experience music from another perspective. This is where another very important figure in my life comes in: Maestro Giuseppe Onofrietti. With great patience and care, he introduced me to composition, helping me discover a new way of expressing myself and living music."
Could you tell us more about your award-winning performance Ottorino Respighi – Notturno, from Sei pezzi per pianoforte? For instance, how did you prepare and bring the music to life?
Noah Napolitano:
"Respighi’s Notturno is one of my absolute favorite pieces for its magical and evocative atmosphere. I chose to present it in this competition because it felt like a more original idea and a new experience compared to the repertoire I had worked on up to that point. I wanted to show that it is possible to present a repertoire different from what is usually brought to competitions, without sacrificing a high musical and compositional level.
The choice of this piece dates back to the summer of 2025, a period when I was away from the piano. During those moments, I enjoy listening to and discovering new repertoire, and that is how I first encountered Respighi’s Sei pezzi per pianoforte. When I returned, I decided to study Notturno, a piece that immediately struck me and required a great deal of work and attention to detail.
Shortly before the competition, I performed this piece during Piano City Napoli, where the performance was recorded, and I chose that very video to submit.
Honestly, I thought the jury might be more impressed by highly virtuosic works such as Chopin’s Étude Op. 25 No. 9 or Nocturne Op. 48 No. 1. Instead, from the way this question was posed to me, I understood that what made the strongest impression was the control of the instrument and the attention to sonic balance—an aspect that is very important to me."
Receiving the Excellent Technique Special Award highlights the distinctive quality of your performance. Could you share how your daily practice, technical training, and musical choices have helped you develop the strong technique you showed on stage?
Noah Napolitano:
"In truth, I did not expect this recognition from the jury. I hoped to receive an award as a result of the commitment and dedication I put into my daily practice, but I did not specifically think of a prize related to technique.
In the way I experience music, technique is never an end in itself. I work on it every day with rigor and consistency, seeking precision and control, but my main goal during a performance is always to express the music as sincerely as possible. I believe that a solid technical foundation is essential precisely because it allows one to feel freer on stage and to focus on musical and expressive aspects.
Receiving this award therefore makes me very happy, because I feel it as a recognition of daily work—often quiet and unseen—made up of careful and patient practice. At the same time, it encourages me to continue along this path with the same passion and with even greater confidence in the future."
What did a typical day of practice look like for you, and how did your family support your music passion? How do you manage your time between music training and schoolwork?
Noah Napolitano:
"My practice days vary depending on school commitments, but I always try to be consistent and study on average at least two hours a day, adjusting the schedule to the day. When I study for a long time, I always take breaks to maintain focus and energy.
My piano training follows a fairly precise sequence. I start with warm-ups, often through studies that also have musical value, such as those by Czerny, Chopin, or Liszt. I then continue with Baroque and Classical repertoire, in particular Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven, and finish by dedicating myself to 19th- and 20th-century composers, such as Debussy, Ravel, Rachmaninoff, and Prokofiev. This helps me maintain a balanced study routine and develop both technique and musicality.
My family is a great point of reference. They have always supported me: they paid for my first lessons, bought my first piano, and accompanied and encouraged me at every performance, competition, and concert. They also often take me to visit important musical places, such as Austria or France, allowing me to experience music not only as study but also as a cultural and personal journey."
Would you like to share your experience participating in our competition and anyone you'd like to thank?
Noah Napolitano:
"I am truly very happy to have participated in this competition and to have reached such an important milestone for me. It was an intense and formative experience that I will certainly carry with me.
I would first like to thank my family, who have always supported me from my very first steps at the piano, accompanying me in every choice and musical experience. A special thanks goes to Professor Luigi D’Arienzo, who guided me and helped me grow musically with great dedication, and to Maestro Giuseppe Onofrietti, for his constant availability and for teaching me awareness and self-criticism in my musical journey. This achievement is also thanks to them."
Biography
My name is Noah Napolitano, I was born on June 25, 2008, and I live and study in Nola.
Music entered my life at a very young age and, over time, it became something essential: not only a field of study, but a way to express myself and grow every day. The piano represents the core of my artistic journey, as well as a personal space where I seek sincerity, balance, and depth.
In 2025, in addition to participating in the Couperin International Music Competition, I took part in other international competitions, receiving the Second Prize at the Clementi International Music Competition and the Silver Award at the Brahms International Online Music Competition.
In previous years, I received several other recognitions that marked important milestones in my growth. At the 3rd International Music Performance Competition of the City of Crotone, I was awarded Second Prize (94/100) in the Original Composition Performance category, along with the Special Prize as Best Young Composer and Performer. I also received Second Prize at the Concorso pianistico nazionale Premio Mater, First Prize at the Premio alla musicalità Maria Russo Spenna, and First Prize with Special Mention at the Concorso Nazionale Con la musica si può dare di più.
Alongside my piano studies, I am deeply committed to studying composition. For me, writing music is a way to better understand what I interpret; it helps me develop greater awareness and experience performance in a more complete and meaningful way.
My goal is to continue my academic path in piano at the Conservatory, complete my degree, and at the same time pursue structured studies in Composition leading to a degree in that field as well. I would also like to attend advanced masterclasses and high-level training courses to further develop artistically and engage with new musical perspectives.
My dream is to build a future dedicated to both concert performance and composition, continuing to grow with dedication, curiosity, and passion.
