Born in Italy, Massimiliano Mainolfi graduated  from the “Conservatorio S.Pietro a Majella” in Italy under the tutelage of Ms. Anna Maria Pennella.  As a young pianist, he was very early brought to public attention winning several national and international piano competitions. At the age of 17 he was awarded with the 1st Prize at the “P. Denza International Piano Competition” in Capri, Italy. In 1992 he moved to United States where he was admitted to the graduate program of the Juilliard School. In New York he studied with the internationally acclaimed russian pianist Oxana Yablonskaya and worked on the chamber music repertoire with the legendary austrian violinist Felix Galimir. He graduated from the Juilliard School in 1996 and a few months later he made his New York Recital Debut at the Carnegie Recital Hall as winner of the "Young Concert Artist International Auditions"

After his graduation he went to London where he has worked for several years with one of the greatest pupil of Arthur Schnabel, Maria Curcio.

From 1996 to 2000 Mr. Mainolfi attended Masterclasses with several great pianist such as Alexander Lonquich at the Florence Academy, Ferenc Rados, Andràs Schiff at the International Musicians Seminars in Cornwall, England and Piernarciso Masi at the prestigious "Accademia Pianistica" in Imola from wich he received the „Diploma Master“ in 2002, a recognition that has been given only a few times in the history of the Accademia.

As a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician Mr. Mainolfi has performed throughout Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, England, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, South Africa and the United States. He was invited to perform at the Montreux Festival, the Festival „da Bach a Bartok“ in Imola, the Festival de Lascours in France, the „Young European Soloists in Brussels, the IMS in Cornwall and the Davos Festival in Switzerland.

Mr. Mainolfi appeared as soloist, with several orchestras throughout Europe and his recent performances include recitals in the most important venues in Geneva (Salle Ansermet), Bern (Radio Auditorium), Munich (Residenz) , Stuttgart (Wilhelma Theater), Berlin (Philharmonie). He performed in many european cities such as Hamburg, Kiel, Milan, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Oslo, Brussels, Stockholm, Cologne.

Mr. Mainolfi is a devoted chamber musician .In April 2003 he made his Berlin Philharmonie Debut in duo with cellist Mattia Zappa which was broadcast live in several european countries. With his Duo he was prize winner at the „V Gui International Competition“ in Firenze, the „G.B. Viotti International Competition“ in Vercelli and the „Trio di Trieste International Competition“.

He records for the label Ducale, Lyra Classica, Claves Records and for Deutschland Radio, DRS, Rai 3, Radio Espace 2. He is regularly invited to join the jury of national and international music competitions.

He is Director of the International Academy of Music  and Chamber Music Supervisor at the Summit Music Festival.

From 2008 he is Associate Professor of the Oxana Yablonskaya Piano Institute in Italy.