Thomas Umbaca

Thomas Umbaca, born in 1997, was born and lives in Milan.

From an early age he devoted himself to and became interested in composition and improvisation, two aspects that over the years evolved into a single expressive language.

After classical studies at the G. Verdi Conservatory in Milan, he attended jazz piano courses, where he studied with major figures on the Italian jazz scene.

Despite his young age, he has had the chance to perform at prestigious festivals and events including PianoCity Milano, Roccella Jazz festival, Armonie d'Arte Festival, at the Museo del '900 in Milan, at the Castello Sforzesco in Milan, for Monza Visionaria at the Parco di Monza, and at the Ospedale San Carlo in Milan in a concert dedicated to the medical staff engaged in the fight against the Pandemic.

He also performed with the Verdi Jazz Orchestra, conducted by Pino Jodice, at a concert for Rai dedicated to the Shoah and to the music of Ennio Morricone.

He composed the soundtrack for the film "Miriam – il diario" by Monica Castiglioni (2015) and for the documentary "Il Terribile Inganno" by Maria Arena (2021), distributed by Amazon Prime Video and Infinity. His openness to different forms of expression has also led him to lend his music to contemporary dance performances and theatre.

In 2019 he won the special Hermès Prize for young talents at the PianoCity Milano competition dedicated to Renato Sellani, in which he took part with his own compositions, and he performed at the former Fabbrica Cova for Biennolo. In 2021 he was the overall winner of the Lelio Luttazzi Prize in the young pianist-composers category at the Casa del Jazz in Rome.

[source: ponderosa.it]