THE FEDERICO CAMPANELLO QUARTET ARE THE WINNERS OF THE CONAD JAZZ CONTEST 2026.

Bologna, July 9, 2026 – Conad and the Umbria Jazz Foundation have announced the overall winner of the 2026 edition of the Conad Jazz Contest: Federico Campanello Quartet.

The Federico Campanello Quartet were chosen for their “well-constructed and linguistically mature proposal” and are the official winners of the thirteenth edition of the renowned jazz competition for young musicians, organized by Conad and Umbria Jazz. The Federico Campanello Quartet will therefore receive the grand prize of €5,000 as a career contribution, as well as a tour of Italy’s most renowned jazz stages , promotion on the contest’s official social media channels throughout the year, and distribution of their EP (extended play) by Universal Music Italia .

The official announcement took place as usual during the live radio broadcast from the mobile studio of Radio Monte Carlo, in front of a large audience and all the finalist bands who waited impatiently for the voice of Stefano Bragatto, Director of the radio and President of the Artistic Jury called to judge the live performances of the 10 finalist bands on 6, 7 and 8 July on the “Conad stage ” of Umbria Jazz at the Giardini Carducci in Perugia, to reveal the name of the winner.

The Federico Campanello Quartet is comprised of Gabriel Marciano on alto saxophone, Niccolò Monterizzi on trumpet, Federico Campanello on double bass, and Elisabetta Saviano on drums. Deeply rooted in the American jazz tradition, the project draws inspiration from figures such as Ornette Coleman, Sonny Rollins, and, from a more contemporary perspective, Mark Turner, reinterpreting their language through the sensibilities and experience of European musicians from diverse artistic backgrounds.

Improvisation is at the heart of the group’s music, permeating not only the solo moments but also the very structure of the compositions. The ensemble’s sound develops around groove , rhythmic interplay, and constant dialogue between the musicians. The original compositions frequently explore metric overlaps, rhythmic modulations, and open forms, generating a constant sense of movement and surprise.

The Federico Campanello Quartet’s commitments as winners of the Conad Jazz Contest 2026 begin with a tour that will start on the stage of Jazz Italiano per l’Aquila (5-6 September 2026), continue with Umbria Jazz Winter #33 in Orvieto (30 December 2026 – 3 January 2027), a tour of Italy’s most famous jazz clubs, and conclude with a performance at the Welcome Back Tony Scott in Salemi in the summer of 2027. This tour is designed to support the launch of young musicians’ careers and is organized by Umbria Jazz.

The award for the most promising musician of the 2026 edition of the Conad Jazz Contest goes to Alberto Bonora of Frame. Alberto Bonora has thus won a place at the Berklee Summer School at Umbria Jazz Clinics 2027.

The Conad Jazz Contest is an initiative by Conad, a long-standing partner of Umbria Jazz, which has always strived to offer opportunities to deserving young people and promote the dissemination of culture as a shared heritage.

Information and rules at www.conadjazzcontest.it

Official social media channels of the Conad Jazz Contest:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConadJazzContest/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conadjazzcontest/

Conad Burson Press Office | Via Morimondo, 26 | 20143 Milan Contact:

Daniele Rurale | [email protected] | +39 346 501 1546

Sofia Lorenzini | [email protected] | +39 347 990 1134