Giovanni Piacentini Nominated for 2025 Latin Grammy

Our friend, Mexican composer and guitarist Giovanni Piacentini, recently shared some fantastic news with us—he has been nominated for the 2025 Latin Grammy Awards in the category of Best Contemporary Classical Work/Composition.

The nomination focuses on one of his latest works which also features guitarist Eliot Fisk. Giovanni's composition is inspired by African-American spirituals and gospel music. It appears on the digital album El Llanto de la Guitarra (The Cry of the Guitar), released by Urtext Digital Classics. This recognition highlights Giovanni’s distinctive voice as a composer, blending classical tradition with contemporary expression and Latin American influences.

Based in Los Angeles but born in Mexico City, Giovanni has built an impressive career as a composer, performer, and educator. His music has been performed across the United States, Mexico, Europe, and China, and recognized for its structures, rich timbres, and ability to create soundscapes that transcend cultural boundaries.

We’re especially proud of Giovanni’s nomination because he has recorded with us at GSI on many occasions. To celebrate this achievement, here’s a video of Giovanni performing his own composition “Selva Adentro”—recorded right here at GSI: