Exploring music from strings to synths

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Guitarist at heart and sound explorer by nature, Danilo Ricci is a London-based session guitarist, composer, producer, sound designer, orchestrator and educator, and a member of the ISM. His work ranges from rock, blues, metal and jazz to media composition, experimental sonic art and large-scale orchestral-electronic projects. A Guildhall School graduate and ISM member, he blends strings, synths and sound design, shaping music that connects tradition with innovation in performance, production and teaching.

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Born in Naples, Italy, Danilo Ricci (Ricciardiello) began studying classical guitar at the age of eleven before expanding into contemporary styles such as blues, rock and jazz. He studied with the Italian composer Giancarlo Perna and in 2013 he also took private lessons with acclaimed jazz guitarists Adam Rogers and Jonathan Kreisberg during his visits to New York City. Love and devotion for music shaped these formative years and gave him a creative, dynamic approach across a wide range of styles. In his 20s, he performed in rockabilly groups, rhythm & blues big bands, and rock and jazz projects, experiences that shaped his versatility and stagecraft.

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After completing a BMus (Hons) in Jazz Guitar at the Conservatorio di Musica San Pietro a Majella, Danilo moved to London in 2015, where he established himself as a teacher, session guitarist, composer and producer, working with a wide range of international clients and artists. Since then, he has worked from his private South East London studio, specialising in rock and contemporary productions while also covering jazz, orchestral arrangements and sonic art.

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In 2021, he was awarded a Guildhall School Financial Award for the Guildhall Artist Masters programme, where he specialised in composition and electronic & produced music. He later completed the degree (Master of Composition with Distinction) and went on to hold a Junior Fellowship at Guildhall (2024–2025).

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Alongside composing for media projects, he is active as a versatile session guitarist, fluent in rock, blues, metal and jazz. He leads the Electric Earth Orchestra — an ensemble combining orchestral instruments, electronics and plant-based sonification, where plants are connected to synthesizers and become part of the performance — and creates experimental sonic art as Rix (exploring biometric data, found sounds and analogue synthesis), sci-fi inspired textures as Nylo Rix, ambient-shoegaze with Cracked Mirror Club, media compositions (combining orchestral and electronic languages for film). Danilo also runs two YouTube/IG channels: his main channel, featuring lessons, performances and creative insights, and The Pedal Stampede, which offers production tutorials, gear reviews and performance breakdowns.

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Danilo has collaborated with brands including Blackstar Amplification, Chaos Audio and Death Cloud Pedals. He has provided orchestrations for UK drum & bass label RAM Records, contributing to OrchestRave & OrchestRam (Barbican Centre, 22-23 and 23–24), and his composition for the major public art project Illuminated River was chosen to represent London Bridge and to launch the official Christmas countdown in 2021.

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He has performed and recorded with international artists including Meredith O’Connor (USA), Joanna Alina (Australia) and Jordan Rutland (UK, Abbey Road Studios). His credits also include a 2023 prime-time TV performance on Belgium’s VTM, where his guitar recording reached an audience of over one million viewers. Other credits include music for film and animation such as The Swan Song (dir. Eric Felizardo), Happy Deal (dir. Guia Ravizza), The Little Shop of Imaginary Friends (BigRock Animation), and Broadway Boogie Woogie (Bauhaus Festival, 2023). In 2017, he also co-authored and composed trailer music with LA-based producer Oscar Neidhardt, creating high-impact, guitar-driven cues for cinematic releases and sync placements.

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Performance highlights include leading London venues such as the Barbican, Southbank Centre (London Jazz Festival), and St Margaret’s Church, Blackheath — as well as the Royal Palace of Portici (Italy), where he performed in 2012 after being awarded a scholarship from the Mozart Box Festival. The palace is historically renowned as the site where a young Mozart himself stayed and performed in 1770. His work continues to evolve across stage, studio and digital platforms, weaving artistry with technology.

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A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama (Master of Composition-Dist, Electronic and Produced Music) and the Conservatoire of San Pietro a Majella in Naples (BMus-Hons in Jazz Guitar), Danilo has over 20 years of experience in performance, recording and education.

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Alongside his private teaching practice, he has lectured and delivered modules at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, including leading a collaboration with the National Trust, with student works featured in the Trust’s official podcast series. He has also taught at Greenwich Music School and Blackheath Conservatoire, guiding a wide range of students in performance, theory and creative studies. He is an MTB Registered Teacher & Exam Conductor, has undertaken Rockschool examiner training, and is a recognised Trinity exam preparation tutor, with in-depth knowledge of graded syllabuses including MTB, Trinity, Rockschool and ABRSM. Hundreds of his students have passed exams with excellent results, while many have gone on to higher education in music.

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A dedicated educator, Danilo teaches guitar, bass, ukulele, songwriting and music production to students of all ages, both in person and online. His teaching combines classical rigour with modern creativity, supporting learners from their first chords to advanced study, from preparing for Grade 8 exams to building creative portfolios for university entry. DBS-checked and safeguarding-trained, he places student wellbeing and inspiration at the centre of his teaching, and is recognised for an empathetic, rigorous and student-centred approach to creative education.

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Helping each student find their own voice, he sees music education as both a craft and a pathway to self-expression. Whether through performance, teaching or production, his mission is simple: to inspire curiosity and explore the limitless landscapes of sound.

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