In memory of Riccardo and his wife Giovanna as two of the founders of the Association, the award was established by the will of the Albano family in 1987 with different reasons upon the years.

The piano competition award “Riccardo and Giovanna Albano” has been a special award from the year 1986 to 2015 at the yearly International Piano Competition “Arcangelo Speranza”, among those of high-profile in Italy.

     From the time of the international competition, in 2009, the special award had been assigned to the youngest performer, a degree and a scholarship.

     From 1997 to 2005 it was a “Critique award”, while in 2006 and over the years of the becoming European competition the award was that to the youngest Italian pianist, to the best Liszt’s performer in 2001, the bicentenary of the composer’s death. 

     Thanks to the will and the support of Mrs. Giusy Francavilla, who studied at Giovanna’s and today is a piano teacher at the Giovanni Paisiello Music Conservatory in Taranto a regional piano competition for youngers has been also organized over the years 2003 and 2004.

     Giovanna was the founder of the Association “Soroptmist” in Taranto and the competition had therefore her name Giovanna Sottomano Albano .