Biography

The piano duo Duo Degas was founded in 2014 during their studies at the International Piano Academy in Imola (Italy). Since then, Gala Chistiakova and Diego Benocci have been performing as a duo in Europe and Asia, collaborating with orchestras, and regularly appearing at international music festivals.

Gala Chistiakova

Born in 1987 in Moscow into a family of musicians
First piano lessons at the age of 3 with her mother, Liubov Chistiakova
1993–2005 studies at the Central Music School at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory (classes of Elena Khoven and Anatoly Ryabov)
2014 graduation from the Moscow Conservatory and postgraduate studies with Prof. Mikhail Voskresensky
Prizewinner of more than 30 international competitions
From 2011 studies at the Academy “Incontri col Maestro” (Imola, class of Prof. Boris Petrushansky)
Lives with her husband Diego Benocci in Grosseto, where both direct the festival “Recondite Armonie” and the exchange project “Young Musicians of the World”

Diego Benocci

Born in 1992 in Grosseto (Italy)
First musical training at the municipal institute with Giuliano Schiano
Studies at the Conservatories “G. Frescobaldi” in Ferrara and “L. Cherubini” in Florence (class of Prof. Maria Teresa Carunchio)
Further training at the Academy “Incontri col Maestro” (Imola) with Enrico Pace and Igor Roma
Performs regularly as a soloist, chamber musician, and with orchestras in Europe and Asia

Concert activity of the Duo

Performances in Russia, Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom
Appearances at festivals including the Tchaikovsky Conservatory Moscow, Weston Recital Hall (Oxford), Festival International de Musique de Chambre Est Ouest (Belgium), Madeira Piano Fest (Portugal), Peregrinos Musicales (Santiago de Compostela), Musiques Vivantes (Vichy)
Special concert for Giorgio Armani in London

Recordings
CD with works by Tchaikovsky (2021, Label OnClassical)
CD with works by Brahms (2023, Label OnClassical)
Radio broadcasts including Rai Radio 3

Prizes and Awards

Winner of the 28th Giulio Rospigliosi Piano Competition
Winner of the 23rd Riviera Etrusca Piano Competition
Winner of the XXXI International Piano Competition Roma
Scholarship of the Accademia Chigiana (2021, class of Lilya Zilberstein)

Quote

“Our duo is more than four hands at the piano – it is the unity of ideas, emotions, and inspiration.”

👉 Having such an outstanding piano duo on our team is a great privilege for our school.