”An accordion virtuoso, under his fingers even the most difficult musics seem easy. The transcriptions for solo accordion of classical pieces for various instruments are very, very interesting. Also to be appreciated is his research and projection in the contemporary repertoire for accordion [...]. " (Marcello Appignani, EuroClassical Director)

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Raffaele Damen, very young, began studying accordion under the guidance of Maestro Paolo Vignani with whom he graduated with full marks and honors at the “G. Rossini” Conservatory in Pesaro. He then deepens his studies at the Folkwang University of Essen in Germany with M ° Mie Miki, at the Italian Accordion Academy with M ° Claudio Jacomucci and at the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia in Rome with M ° Massimiliano Pitocco.

He was the winner of national and international competitions including: “Premio Civardi” Val Tidone, Stresa, PIF Castelfidardo, Luigi Nono, Premio Abbado, Piove di Sacco and others.

Numerous national and international festivals that have already hosted it, including: Roman Philharmonic Academy, Radio3 Suite, Italian Cultural Institute of Amsterdam, "Accordéons-nous" of Mons, PIF Castelfidardo, Sarzana Opera Festival, Philharmonic Society of Trento, WunderKammer Orchestra. His performances were broadcast by Rai1, Sky, Tv8.

He collaborates with the Marchigiana FORM Philharmonic orchestra with which he performed as a soloist the concert "Fachwerk" by Sofia Gubajdulina directed by Maestro Daniele Rossi and, as an orchestral, for the complete symphonies of G.Mahler conducted by Maestro Manlio Benzi . In 2019, together with the pianist Roberta Pandolfi, he conceived and inaugurated the international concert season "Fossombrone Classica".

In the same year, he recorded the album “Find Him” with music by Danilo Comitini for the Stradivarius record company.

In 2021 his first solo album "Aion" was released for the Da Vinci record company, with a program entirely dedicated to minimalist compositions.

New works for accordion are often dedicated to him by contemporary composers such as: Sonia Bo, Danilo Comitini, Mario Totaro, Paolo Giaro.

His repertoire includes works from JSBach up to contemporary contemporary music.

He is accordion teacher at the “B. Maderna ”in Cesena and at the Liceo Scientifico Musicale“ G. Marconi of Pesaro.