"Siroco" is a musical project born from the collaboration between Consuelo Alfieri (record producer) and Giuseppe Astore (fixation director) and which celebrates the rich tradition of Salento popular music, mixing ancient melodies and engaging rhythms with contemporary sounds.
The name "Siroco" is inspired by the hot wind coming from the desert that blows into the Mediterranean, but now it is also linked to the deep roots of Salento popular music that permeate the project.
Each performance is an emotional journey through the culture and traditions of Salento, guided by the contagious energy of the artists who make up the group. A unique musical experience that unites past and present in a harmonious embrace of sounds and emotions.
The "Siroco" project aims to preserve and spread Salento popular music at a national and international level, bringing the magic and authenticity of Salento's musical traditions to an increasingly wider audience. Through the passion, dedication and mastery of the artists involved, "Siroco" wants to convey a message of unity and connection through music.
The band is made up of Consuelo Alfieri (organetto and vocals), Giuseppe Astore (violin and vocals), Sergio Pizza (frame drums), Giacomo Contaldo (guitar), Gianmarco Alfieri (accordion and violin) Serena Pellegrino (dance) with the collaboration by Carlo Massarelli (wind instruments), Mario Esposito (Bass, double bass) and Gioele Nuzzo (electronics).
Consuelo Alfieri
Consuelo Alfieri, 28 years old, born in the heart of Salento and raised in the charming town of Palmariggi. She is a talented singer and musician who has dedicated her life to music, starting her artistic journey at the age of 7, when she began studying accordion and tambourine. The influence of "Nonna Tunata" guided her towards traditional popular music, enriching her repertoire with songs written in Salento dialect and Italian.
Giuseppe Astore
He trained at the “Nino Rota” Conservatories of Monopoli (Bari) and “Tito Schipa” of Lecce, where he graduated in 2021 in classical violin. He has been collaborating since 2017 with the Orchestra Popolare della Notte della Taranta, thanks to which he has shared the stage with artists of the caliber of, among others, Gregory Porter, Gerry Leonard, Tim Ries - saxophonist of the Rolling Stones - James Senese, Elisa, Marco Mengoni, Buonvino, Diodato, LP, Gualazzi, Stromae, Mannoia, Elodie, Nannini, Dardust, Il Volo, participating in the ensemble's tours in Argentina, USA, Cuba, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, Greece, Albania, South Korea, England, Chile, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Serbia, Singapore, Dubai.
Sergio Pizza
He approached the study of the tambourine and the traditional techniques of using this instrument at a very young age, starting to perform at the age of 10 with "Agorà" and the singer Saverio Fonseca. A project with which he had his first experiences on stage and cultivated a passion for the instrument, thanks to which he approached the world of frame and goblet drums from the Mediterranean basin, starting to delve deeper into their characteristics and use. He attended the three-year course in Frame Drums of the Department of Traditional Music of the P. I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Nocera Terinese under the guidance of Maestro Andrea Piccioni. To date he carries out concert activities with various groups and artists from the Salento popular music scene.
Giacomo Contaldo
He began his guitar studies with Maestro Luca Accogli, then crowned in 2005/2006 with a diploma in Solfeggio and musical theory and then in Lower completion of guitar at the “Tito Schipa” Conservatory of Lecce (2007-2008), in 2009 with the masterclass in "Music of the 18th century" with the masters Scarinzi and Barone and in 2012 with the enrollment in the guitar course at the "Nicolò Piccinni" Conservatory in Bari. He has collaborated with artists such as Gaetano Cortese, Mino De Santis , Luigi Mariano and the actress Paola Pitagora, and performs with various groups including “Mute Terre”, “AriaCorte” (for which he manages a guitar course), “Accademia Folk”, “Supponi che… Rino” (cover by Rino Gaetano), Moneskin (Måneskin cover).
Gianmarco Alfieri
He began his musical journey by studying violin privately, and then furthered his studies at the “Tito Schipa” Conservatory in Lecce with the pre-academic course and currently the three-year course. He studied accordion privately with maestro Alessandro Gazza, while he is self-taught for guitar and keyboard. Finally, he attended Tony Frassanito's "Dove c'è musica" singing school, writes and composes his own songs, publishing them on digital platforms under the name "Gian". Each experience has enriched his musical baggage and continues to inspire him in his journey.
Serena Pellegrino
She approached popular dance at the age of 4, and in 2013 she began her professional training by attending the Giannelli dance high school in Parabita, where she graduated in 2017. Over the years she has deepened her study of tarantism and popular dances from Southern Italy. In 2017 she joined the Notte della Taranta dance troupe, working with international choreographers such as Luciano Cannito, Massimiliano Volpini, Davide Bombana, Sharon Eyal, Thomas Signorelli, Irma di Paola, Laccio and participating with the Orchestra in the winter tours in Italy and abroad and at international events including the Charity Ball in Vienna, the 500th anniversary of Havana (Cuba), Expo 2020 in Dubai and the Mediterranean Games in Algeria. Since 2017 he has taught popular and academic dances at the "La Fabbrica dello Spettacolo" school in Ruffano, and collaborates with various local entities. In 2020 he danced for the "Dior Cruise" fashion show in Piazza Duomo in Lecce with the dance troupe and the Orchestra Popolare della Notte della Taranta, and again in 2020 he obtained his diploma as a teacher of classical propedeutics at the IDA - International Dance Association, and contemporary dance with Sabrina Saturno at the “Professional Dance Center” in Salerno.