Simone Pedroni is an Italian pianist and conductor born in Novara, Italy.
Pedroni graduated from Milan's Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in 1990. In 1995, he received his master's degree at Accademia Pianistica "Incontri col Maestro" in Imola, Italy, where he studied with Lazar Berman, Franco Scala and Piero Rattalino.Pedroni was the gold medalist of the Ninth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1993.
Marcello Abbado (7 October 1926 – 4 June 2020) was an Italian pianist, composer, conductor and academic teacher. His compositions include several orchestral works, two ballets, numerous pieces for solo piano, and chamber music. As a pianist, he played in major concert halls of the world. He taught composition at several conservatories, ultimately at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory. In 1989 he was awarded the gold medal for Meritorious Culture and Art (Medaglia d'oro ai benemeriti della cultura e dell'arte) by the Government of Italy.