DARIO PIGA
A native of Sardinia, Dario Piga began playing guitar when he was 11 years old. In 2009 he won a scholarship from Spain's AIE (Asociacion Interpretes y Ejecutantes) that enabled him to study at the famed Fundacion Cristina Hereen School of Flamenco Art in Seville where he studied for two years under Pedro Sierra, Nino de Pura, Paco Cortes, Eduardo Rebollar, and Pepa Sanchez. In 2010 he was awarded a Diploma oficial de guitarra flamenca at The Seville Conservatory.
Concurrent with his studies in Seville, Mr. Piga pursued supplemental studies at the Conservatory of Jerez de la Frontera. In addition to his guitar studies in Seville and Jerez, he had the opportunity to meet and work with prominent flamenco artists Luis Balaguer, David Vargas, Marcelo de la Puebla and Laura Vital -the distinguished flamenco singer (cantaora) from Sanlucar de Barrameda.
While living in Seville, Mr. Piga performed professionally with leading flamenco artists in festivals and concerts, accompanying dancers and singers alike. He also participated in international flamenco competitions and toured with flamenco ensembles throughout Europe. In December 2009 he won the premio della critica in the Andrea Parodi World Music Contest held on the island of Sardinia. The title of the winning song was "Dantzamena" - which is included on Mr. Piga's first CD, Ahora Nada, released in 2012 and available on-line via iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and Deezer. In 2017 he released his second CD, Don Piga, an innovative musical project which approaches classical symphonic music from a flamenco perspective.
Dario Piga regularly participates in the Time in Jazz Festival in Sardinia, and in 2012 was invited to perform at the Iberica Festival in Brno, Czech Republic. He has taught on the faculty at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic, and also teaches privately in Sardinia and, via Skype, under the auspices of The Los Angeles Guitar Academy.