Thomas Pennisi approached music by the academic and private study of classical guitar ever since he was a child under the guidance of Luca Indelli, Aldo Guarisco and Stefano Di Fonzo. After his high-school duties he decided to enter the Composition class in the Conservatory of Como in 2018 and he’s currently attending his graduating three-year period as a composer, studying with Vittorio Zago, Federico Gardella, Pasquale Corrado (current tutor). As a student he has also attended masterclasses and laboratories in various fields of music and medias.

In 2022 he’s selected finalist in the “5th European Composer Competition” by the Franz Schubert Konzervatorium in Vienna and awarded the 2nd prize in the “8th Vienna Composer Competition 2022” by the Academia Musica in Vienna with his piece Synæsthesiæ – I. Silk for Bass clarinet and Cello.

In 2023 he’s selected by Divertimento Ensemble to participate in the guitar composition workshop followed by Elena Casoli with two final concerts in 2024 in Milan (Fabbrica del Vapore - Divertimento Ensemble headquarter) and Bern (Hochschule der Künste).

In 2024 he is selected finalist in the “3rd call for scores” by the Cadenza Contemporary Orchestra in Baku and his music is workshopped in a public reading session at the International Mugham Center of Azerbaijan.

In 2024 he’s awarded the 1st prize in the “2nd Mansurian International Competition” and invited to the Final Gala-Concert at the Komitas Museum Institute in Yerevan with his piece To the moon for Soprano and Alto Flute.

In 2024 he’s selected in the call for scores by Fundaciò ACA in Mallorca and is commissioned a piece for piano and cello for a concert in November during the Festival Encontres de Compositors - Composition Workshop Mallorca 2024.

In 2024 he’s awarded the ‘special prize’ in the “4th Ise-Shima International Composition Competition” (Japan) with his piece Amigdala for String Quartet.

In 2024 he’s awarded the ‘honourable mention’ in the “2nd musiCON International Composition Competition” by Mayflower Art Center and invited to the Final Concert in October at the National Opera Center in New York with his piece Amigdala for String quartet.

In 2024 he’s awarded the ‘honourable mention’ in the “43rd Premio Valentino Bucchi” by Accademia Filarmonica Romana with his piece Sei drappeggi dal mondo for solo classical guitar.

In 2024 he’s selected for participation in the 7th edition of the composition masterclass “San Vito Musica Contemporanea” followed by Ivan Fedele and is commissioned a piece for String Quintet for a concert in December at the Teatro Sociale Arrigoni in Pordenone (Italy).

In 2024 he’s awarded the first prize in the “3rd Aalborg Guitar composition competition” by Aalborg Guitar Festival in Denmark with his piece Sei drappeggi dal mondo for solo classical guitar which will be published by Bergmann Edition.

In 2024 he’s selected as one of six winners in Bent Frequency’s “Underscore” call for scores (>300 applications) with his piece To the moon for Soprano and Alto Flute, to be performed during the winners’ concert in March 2025 at the Kopleff Recital Hall, Georgia State University, Atlanta.

In 2025 he attended four seminars with composers Alessandro Solbiati, Sonia Bo, Javier Torres Maldonado and Giorgio Colombo Taccani within the frame of the XIXth edition of “Festival 5 giornate di Milano”.

His music has been performed in Como, Milan, Baku, Bern, Yerevan, New York, Rome, Mallorca, Pordenone and Atlanta.