Aniello Desiderio and Zoran Dukić

Aniello Desiderio and Zoran Dukić, both acclaimed classical guitarists, have been collaborating as a duo since the early 1990s. Together, they are sometimes know as From A & Z.
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Their repertoire spans a diverse range of compositions, from Baroque transcriptions to contemporary works. Notably, they have performed adaptations such as Bach’s Chaconne and pieces by Italian composers Domenico Scarlatti and Domenico Cimarosa. Their interpretations of Astor Piazzolla’s Suite Troileana, arranged by Sérgio Assad, have received stellar reviews.

In 2021, the duo released their album A & Z, featuring a selection of these works. Their synergy and technical mastery continue to captivate audiences worldwide, solidifying their reputation as a leading guitar duo in the classical music scene.

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At the age of eight, Aniello Desiderio performed in public for the first time, displaying such outstanding gifts that music critics started to speak of him as an “enfant prodige”, “wunderkind”, “a genius”, “the Orpheus of the guitar”, “a guitarist of the century”, and “il Fenomeno”. He quickly established himself as a concert artist with a distinct voice when he won 18 first place International Awards in both national and international competitions. Notable among them are 1st Prize and Special Prize for the best interpretation of South American music at the International Guitar Competition in Havana, Cuba (1988); “Neapolitan of the Year” Award in Italy (1988); 1st Prize and Special Prize of the best interpretation of Tarrega’s music at the International  Francisco Tarrega Competition, Benicasim, Spain (1992), and 1st Prize at the International “Guerrero” Competition, Madrid, Spain (1994).

Mr. Desiderio graduated with honors from the Conservatory of Music in Alessandria, Italy in 1992. He is currently the professor of guitar at University of Music at Domenico Cimarosa of Avellino (Italy). He is the worldwide Artist Ambassador for D’Addario Strings.

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Zoran Dukić graduated from the Music Academy of Zagreb with Darko Petrinjak and completed his studies with Hubert Käppel at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne.  In his “tour de force” competition years (1990-1997) he won an astonishing number of competitions.  Dukic is the only guitarist to have won both “Andrés Segovia” competitions, in Granada and in Palma de Mallorca. Showing astounding mastery in a wide variety of musical periods and styles, he has also won competitions dedicated to “Fernando Sor”, “Manuel Ponce”, “Manuel de Falla”, “Francisco Tarrega” among others. In the greatest Spanish guitar competition in Madrid, patronized by the Royal Family, he was awarded, in addition to the first prize, the special prize for the best interpretation of Spanish music (first time awarded to a non-Spaniard).