Audiovisual artist, composer and guitarist.
I work across contemporary music, sound art and immersive audiovisual environments, combining instrumental practice with spatial sound and visuals.
About
Trained as a jazz guitarist in the Netherlands, Rocco graduated in Jazz Guitar and further developed his musical practice through international programs such as the Berklee Summer School in Boston and the Umbria Jazz Clinics. He has been active in the European jazz and experimental music scenes for over a decade, performing and recording with a wide range of international musicians and ensembles, and appearing at major festivals including North Sea Jazz, Cologne Jazz Week, Lowlands and Jazzexzess Berlin. His work has been nominated for the German Jazz Prize and received recognition through various competitions and projects.
Alongside his activity as a guitarist and composer, Rocco has progressively expanded his practice toward sound art and audiovisual work, focusing on sound as a spatial and experiential medium. His work explores atmosphere, perception and long-duration listening, often integrating electronic sound, acoustic instruments and real-time visual systems.
This research converges in Garden Hermits, an ongoing immersive audiovisual project that combines soundscapes, music, live microscopy and visuals to explore hidden ecosystems and organic processes. Garden Hermits exists as both a site-specific installation and a performative experience, adaptable to galleries, independent spaces and festivals. The project has been presented in various exhibition and performance contexts and has been developed through artistic residencies in Europe and the United States.
In parallel, Rocco works with site-specific sound environments, designing custom sound installations for exhibitions, public spaces and selected commercial contexts. These projects draw on his artistic sensibility and technical expertise to shape spatial identity and atmosphere without overpowering the visual or architectural context.
Rocco is also an experienced educator, teaching guitar and music in international school contexts and private settings. His teaching practice reflects the same integrative approach found in his artistic work, connecting instrumental technique, listening, creativity and contemporary tools.
He is currently based in Cologne and works internationally across artistic, educational and applied contexts.