“I believe that Music has the power to heal and uplift, to get us closer to our being and inspire the infinite creative potential that is in each one of us"
In Brief & Early Journey
Ilario Ferrari is an Italian-born singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer based in the UK, whose music brings together song, improvisation, lyrical piano playing and a deep love for emotional honesty, human connection and musical storytelling.
Born in the coastal town of Terracina in southern Italy, Ilario began his musical journey in his teenage years, first through the guitar and soon after through self-taught piano and composition. Guided early on by guitarist Andrea Renzelli, he developed a strong instinct both as a songwriter and as a creator of musical worlds. At just seventeen, his first band reached the finals of the national competition Rock Targato Italia in Milan, marking an early step in a path that would continue to expand across genres, languages and artistic forms.
Moving to London
After completing studies in medical engineering, Ilario chose to follow music fully and graduated with First Class Honours in Jazz Piano from the Licinio Refice Conservatory in 2015. He later moved to London through the EU scholarship programme Working With Music, where he worked as a pianist, composer and arranger at Quadra Recording Studio, writing for a wide range of ensembles including string players from the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Since then, Ilario has built a distinctive artistic voice across multiple projects as performer, composer and bandleader. His work moves naturally between contemporary songwriting, jazz, chamber textures and Mediterranean influences, always held together by a strong melodic sensibility and a search for beauty, sincerity and depth.
Education and Community
Alongside his work as an artist, Ilario has also been deeply committed to music education. In the UK he has taught piano, singing and composition, worked in schools, earned a PGCE and QTS in secondary education, and led young musicians in ensembles, workshops and performances in UK and Europe. He continues to value education as a powerful way of nurturing confidence, creativity and human connection through music.
The Trio Years
A central part of his recent journey has been the Ilario Ferrari Trio, with Charlie Pyne on double bass and vocals and Katie Patterson on drums and vocals. Their debut album, Childhood Memories (2021), introduced a richly personal sound world, while their second album, Above The Clouds (2024), brought further recognition from audiences and critics alike, with airplay on BBC Radio 3 and other stations in the UK and abroad. The trio’s music has been presented in venues and festivals across the UK, including sold-out concerts in London and performances at the Watford Jazz Festival and London Jazz Festival.
Collaborations
Ilario’s creative world also extends through collaborations with inspiring artists from different musical backgrounds. These include his long-standing musical friendship with guitarist and composer Enrico Olivanti, performances and ongoing work with Cuban violinist Omar Puente in the project Mediterranean Meets Cuba, and collaborations with artists such as Randolph Matthews and the Ondanueve String Quartet. His 2023 album Be Yourself, written for piano and string quartet, reflected his love for intimacy, lyricism and expanded chamber textures.
A New Chapter
Now, Ilario is entering a new chapter with his forthcoming sixth studio album. Rooted in voice, guitar, piano and immersive vocal textures, the project marks a deepening of his singer-songwriter identity while remaining connected to the improvisational openness and expressive richness that have always shaped his music. Conceived as a series of musical letters written to the self across time and space, the album explores encouragement, awareness, vulnerability, love and inner transformation.
At the Heart of the Work
At the heart of Ilario’s artistry is a desire to create music that feels human, generous and alive — music that can accompany, uplift and awaken something real in the listener. Whether performing in an intimate solo setting, collaborating with long-standing musical partners, or developing large-scale creative projects, he remains committed to making work that brings together artistry, presence and heartfelt connection.
“Ferrari’s vocal and piano skills are on top form. A versatile trio, able to cross several fresh and innovative musical terrains distinctively, making this a captivating and entertaining album.”
-From the review of “Above The Clouds” All About Jazz