Italian Music & Art Academy in Florence

Our fully qualified and highly trained instructors are continuously updated on the most modern methods and research in the field of language teaching, assuring a constant awareness of its functional aspects as well as the guidelines for a natural and active learning of the Italian language. From the very first day of class, students are put into the condition of being able to acquire the language by "using" the language actively to deal with common, everyday situations, to learn specific vocabulary and expressions and apply the correct grammatical functions.

Rodolfo Tommasi - Director of the Art and Music Departments

Rodolfo Tommasi, a writer, a musicologist and a stage director of Melodrama and modern and contemporary opera (he is also a direct descendant of the famous Tommasi Macchiaoli painters - Adolfo, Angiolo and Ludovico, and although not a painter himself, his areas of expertise allow him to be active in the field of visual expression).

Since 1964 Rodolfo has been involved in cultural journalism, writing about literary works, music and theater for newspapers and magazines (in 1964 he began writing for "Il Ponte"); from 1970 to 1997 he worked for the RAI, at GR3. His research revolves mostly around literature and music and their correlation. He has published numerous articles in the following fields:

literary essays (among the more recent works):

• Pinocchio, analisi di un burattino, ed. Sansoni;
• Regina Barbara, la poesia di Dino Campana, ed. Polistampa).

essays on music:

• two studies on Mascagni, ed. Sonzogno;
• A colloquio con Ugalberto De Angelis, ed. Sonzogno;
• Il Teatro Comunale di Firenze: presenza e linguaggio, ed. De Agostini).

poetry:

• Per una rappresentazione di Euridice - intervento scenico sul melodramma di J. Peri e O. Rinuccini;
• Trilogia del silenzio, ed. La Ginestra;
• Trilogia della parola, ed. De Agostini.

In the period from 1977-1986, Rodolfo taught at the music school of Sesto Fiorentino, the music school of Fiesole, and he was the artistic director of the International Courses on Renaissance and Baroque Music in Gargonza, and also for the "Festival Spazio Musica Antica". In the field of the theater and performances, Rodolfo has been in charge of the direction of several stage productions, in Italy and also abroad:

• Rappresentazione di hanima et di corpo by E. d' Cavalieri;
• La barca di Venezia per Padova by A. Banchieri;
• The Intermezzi for La Pellegrina;
• Euridice by J. Peri;
• Dido and Aeneas by H. Purcell;
• Intenzione Monteverdi, Il sogno di Orfeo (music by Peri, Monteverdi, Gluck);
• La Serva Padrona and Lo frate 'nnamorato (by Pergolesi).

Recently he has focused on the 19th-20th century repertory:

• Intenzione Rossini, Dalla casa del diavolo (music by Monteverdi/Pergolesi/Boccherini);
• Umana Dea (a study on Norma by V. Bellini);
• Amor Difforme (a study on Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi);
• Il giardino di Arianna by G. Melai- D. Bertini - A. Sidney.

He has just published a Dictionary of Italian Writers of the 20th century for Helicon press and currently he is working on a book on the Theatrical/musical phenomenology of Giacomo Puccini.

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Vocal technique

Susanna Rigacci

Susanna Rigacci was born in Stockholm, Sweden. She has been graduated in musical training at the Luigi Cherubini conservatory in Florence, and has attended successfully to a post graduation experience with Iris Adami Corradetti. Under her conduction, Susanna was awarded at the International "Maria Callas" Competition (Concorso RAI, 1983), and for the "Sängerförderungspreis", at the Mozarteum (Salzburg, 1985).

In Italy, she has performed in most prestigious theaters like: La Scala in Milan, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, La Fenice in Venice, The Opera House in Rome, Filarmonico in Verona, Massimo in Palermo, Regio in Parma, Bellini in Catania, and Comunale in Bologne.

She has also performed at the: Carnegie Hall in New York, Opéra Comique and Théatre Châtelet in Paris, Prague Philharmonic, Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, Opéra de Wallonie in Liège, Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Fundaçao Gulbenkian in Lisbon, Wexford Festival, Teatro Municipale in Mallorca, and Staatteater in Bern.

Her lyrical Soprano repertory revolves mostly around the Italian Baroque ( Vivaldi - Scarlatto - Cimarosa - Galoppi - Pergolesi - Boccherini - Stradella - Gasparini - Sacchini ), from whom she has made several recordings with the Solisti Veneti,conducted by Claudio Sciamone (Erato) for the Philips, and Bongiovanni recorders. She has enriched her brilliant Rossini and Donizetti repertoire ( Don Pasquale - screened for German broadcast - L'Elisir d'Amore, La Figlia del Reggimento, Il Signor Bruschino, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, La Cambiale di Matrimonio ), and the 19th century Italian and French Belcanto.

Susanna is also versed in contemporary music of which repertory she has performed for the most prestigious events and institutions like: La Biennale in Venice, the London Sinfonietta, the RAI in Rome, Turin and Milan, the Pomeriggi Musicali Orchestra in Milan, the Sicilian Symphonic Orchestra, and Di Ghibellina Festival. She has interpreted Webern, Berg, Schönberg, Berio, Nono, Sciarrino, and she has performed some Togni, Pennisi, D'Amico compositions for the first time to an audience. She has also been the main performer on the Italian opening performance of La Gatta Inglesi(The English Cat) by Henze, at the Comunale Theater in Bologne.

Susanna Rigacci sings in 6 different idioms, and alternates her concert performance with the constantly refinement of her chamber music repertory.

She is an usual performer of Enio Morricone compositions in her concerts and recordings.

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Eva Tonietti

Eva Tonietti has a degree in Arts History from the University of Florence. She has diplomas in Singing with Renata Ongaro and in Chamber Singing with Lilliana Poli at the Luigi Cherubini Conservatory in Florence. She concluded a specialisation course with Ettore Campogalliani at the Adria lyrical laboratory in the Scuola di musica (Fiesole), and another course with Noemi Perugina on operatic and chamber repertory in Paris. Then, she studied lieder with Paul Schillawsky, and attended courses for several years on contemporary music (GAMO) with Lilliana Poli, and (Genazzano) with Silvano Bussotti.

She is part of the musical ensemble "L'Homme Armé" which she has participated in several Renaissance and Baroque music festivals, deepening her understanding on Baroque vocality with James Griffith (from the Pro Cantione Antiqua ), and with Jill Feldmann.

She has won several music competitions, among which she was awarded the first prize at the 6th National Vocal Chamber Music Competition "Città di Conegliano" and at the 5th Nation-wide Lyrical Competition "A. Lazzari" in Genoa.

Eva performs concerts, chamber and contemporary repertories, as a soloist, throughout Italy and abroad as well. She teaches at both the Accademia Musicale and the ISTITUTO EUROPEO in Florence. She has also taken part in recordings for the RAI, and recorded 2 CDs for "L'Homme Armé" ensemble.

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Lucia Sciannimanico

After concluding her degree in Singing, Lucia has enriched her skills with Elly Ameling, Irwin Gage, Julia Hamari, Jill Feldmann, Andrew Lawrence King, James Griffett. Her repertory, particularly extent, focus on the Baroque music both in operas and concerts, and also includes Medieval repertory, and lideristic repertory of the 20th century.

Among the greatest operas that she has acted in, the most important ones are: le Passioni, la Messa in Ti minor, Oratorio di Natale e Magnificat by Bach, Judas maccabeus, Samson and Messiah by Haendel, Requiem by Mozart, Stabat Mater and Petite Messe solennelle by Rossini, Elijah by Mendelssohn, El amor brujo by De Falla, Kindertotenlieder by Mahler.

She collaborates regularly with music groups specialized in Baroque and Medieval repertory, like Modo Antiquo by Federico Maria Sardelli, Il Complesso Barocco by Alan Curtis, La Venexiana by Claudio Cavina, and L'Homme armé by Fabio Lombardo.

In opera, Lucia performed as the protagonist in the following Baroque ones: la Didone de F. Cavalli a Glasgow, L' incoronazione di Poppea by Claudio Monteverdi, produced in collaboration with RAI and J.C. Malgoire repeted, La Dori by M.A. Cesti, Juditha Triumphans (in a scenic form), Arsilda Regina dei Ponto, Orlando furioso and Tito Manlio by A. Vivaldi, under the direction of F.M. Sardelli, and produced by Opera Barga, and most recently Deidamia by G.F. Haendel under the direction of Alessandro De Marchi for the Haendel Festspiele of Halle. Also in Halle, she performed for the first time to an audience in Imeneo by Haendel.

She has performed as the protagonist in Caino de A. Scarlatti produced by Altstadtherbst in Dusseldorf, always under the direction of F. M. Sardelli. She also played parts of Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro under the direction of Peter Maag, Second Lady in Zauberflöte, under the direction of Piero Bellugi and production of Lindsay Kemp, and of Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel produced by Orchestra della Toscana. She also performed as the protagonist in Pinocchio by Marco Tutino for the Teatro Comunale of Florence.

She contributed as a soloist in important institutions and Lyric entities as the Pucciniano Festival, the Teatro Comunale of Florence, the Chigiana Academy, the Verdi Theater of Pisa, the Ravenna Festival, the Teatro Comunale of Treviso, the Musica Antica Festival of Regensburg, the Regio Theater of Torino, Macerata Opera, the Cantiere Internazionale d'Arte, the Teatro Comunale of Bolonha, the Teatro S.Carlo, the Théatre des Champs-Elysée. Between 1990 and 1993 she developed an intense soloist activity in concerts for important institutions in England and Scotland.

For her chamber music repertory, she was awarded in 1992 the prize of best performance of English Songs at the International Competition of Grimsby in England with Cabaret Songs from B. Britten. She also performed many Lieder e Mélodies concerts. She has participated since the foundation of the "Notschibikitschi Ensemble" in which she performed a rare repertory from Mozart up to the contemporary composers, and performed many others, like Goethe Lieder by L. Dallapiccola; she took part of the group "Arlecchino", dedicated to the spreading of cameristic musical literature of the 20th century for young people.

Lucia participated in many recordings: the anthologies "Carmina Burana" and "La musica dei crociati" with the Modo Antiquo group (Amadeus), Juditha Triumphans (Tactus), Arsilda, Orlando Furioso and Tito Manlio under the direction of F.M. Sardelli, two anthologies of Madrigali de Sigismondo d'India and Gesualdo da Venosa with the group "La Venexiana" (Glossa), the album Le notti d'amore, musiche per le nozze di Cosimo II and Maria Maddalena d'Austria, under the direction of Alan Curtis (Stradivarius), the anthology Regina Pretiosa of laudas and motetes of the 14th century Florentine, Canzoni e duetti, by Carulli (Dynamic).

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Francesco Ghelardini

Francesco Ghelardini was born in Florence and has studied Singing with Kathleen Lafferty at the Conservatorio Luigi Cherubini, where he also studied Flute with David Bellugi. He attended classes in Baroque performance with Rossana Bertini, Jill Feldmann and Gloria Banditelli.

He has sung with such recognized conductors as Rinaldo Alessandrini, Peter Phillips, Alan Curtis and Marco Balderi, and has been regularly invited to many leading festivals in Italy and abroad, such as Festival Monteverdiano di Cremona, Festival Pucciniano di Torre de Lago, Festival di Spoleto, Accademia Chigiana, Semàna Musica Religiosa en Cuenca (Spain), Auditòrio Nacional de Musica de Madrid, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. Recently, he has sung the main part in Alessandro Melani's Il Sacrificio d'Abel with Concerto Italiano under Rinaldo Alessandrini conduction at the early music festival Trigonale in Klagenfurt (Austria).

His recordings, for labels like OPUS 111, DIVOX ANTIQUA and TACUS, include Monteverdi's Vespro della Beata Vergine for OPUS111 with Rinaldo Alessandrini.

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Floriana Pezzolo

Floriana Pezzolo was born in Padova.

Education:

Qualification courses, scholarship and abroad experience:

• April 1991 - cultural exchange in Nantes ( France ), organized by P. Scalcerle instituteof Padova;
• August 1992 - cultural exchange in Holzminden (Germany) organized by Comune di Padova;
• August 1994 - internship at "médiathèque comunale de Nantes" (France) with Comune di Padova;
• November 1995 - "La voce in equilibrio" teacher: M.King, Cittadella (PD);
• December 1997 - cultural exchange in Pforzheim ( Germany ), organized by Comune di Vicenza;
• November 1998 - German language course at the "Actilingua" in Vienna ( Austria );
• August 2000 - Scholarship at "Richard Wagner" association in Bayreuth ( Germany );
• October 2000/February 2001 - "The functional method of the voice" (beginners and advanced course), teacher: M.S. Roveri,Santa Giustina (BL);
• August 2001 - "Musical periodical in the name of Filippo Marchetti", vocal chamber music course, teacher: S.doz,Bolognola (MC), in partner with the pianist M.Murari;
• July 2002 - "Experiences of musical didactics in education scopes", conducted by S.I.M.E.O.S. ( Italian Society of Elementary Music of Orff-schulwerk), Verona.

Awards:

• November 1998 - First competition for lyrics singers Antonio Panella, city of Venice, Gianetta roll in Elisir d'amore de Donizetti;
• April 2001 - 15 th National revision I Giovani per i Giovani, San Pietro in Vincoli (RA), two prizes, first not attributed;
• June 2001 - 15 th International Musical revision of the chamber, city of Montefiore Conca (RN), one prize together with the pianist M. Murari.

Professional experience:

• 1995 - concerts performance as a soloist in Italy during both singing and piano graduation in Chamber Music;
• 1997 - she collaborates with Atheists Chorus de Filippo Maria Bressan, acting in the most important Italian theaters (Lingotto di Torino, Palafenice de Veneza, Comunali de Ferrara, Bolonha,Siena,L'Aquila, Cagliari,etc.) and directors as Eliahu Imbal, Claudio Abbado, Lorin Maazel, Peter Maag, Jeffrey Tate, Isaac Karabtschewski, etc.;
• 1998 - "Il Geloso Schernito" by Pergolesi at the Villa Belverde de Mirano (VE)Theater playing the part of Dorina.
• A.S. 2001/2002:
- Music Educational teacher at "F. Petrarca" elementary school and singing teacher at "Allegro com Brio" Music Association in Padova
- PROPEDEUTICA MUSICAL teacher at the G. Mazzini elementary school and "Anton Diabelli" musical association in Padova
- German language teacher in "Pietro d'Abano" Institute in Abano Terme (PD) for Enaip Veneto
• A.A. 2002/2003:
- Language teacher and German musical terminology at the "C.Pollini" State Music Conservatory in Padova (for the experimental Triennio in musicologist);
- Language teacher and Italian culture in "Leonardo da Vinci" school in Florence.
• A.A. 2003/2004:
- Poetical-musical literature teacher in German language (for the experimental Triennio in musicologist) and the French and German phonetic applied in singing (for the singing department) in the "A. Buzzolla" Music State Conservatory of Adria ( Rovigo )
- Language teacher and Italian culture in "Leonardo da Vinci" school in Florence
• A.A. 2004/2005:
- Still collaborating at the "C. Pollini" high musical graduation institute in Padova and a "A.Buzzolla" from Adria ( Rovigo ) and at "Leonardo da Vinci" in Florence
- Published 'The Manual of Phonetic Frenchman and German Applied to Singing" for the publishing company ARMELIN-MUSICA of Padova.

Current courses:

• Degree in Vocal Music in Chamber at "Luigi Cherubini" Music Conservatory in Florence, under the orientation of M.Leonardo De Lisi

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Instruments

Angel Andrea Tavani

Agel Andrea Tavani was born in La Spezia. He has a degree in violin from the A. Boito Conservatory in Parma (1989) with Professor Runza, simultaneously with classical studies. Before finishing his graduation, he attended a course for orchestra qualification at the Scuola di Musica in Fiesole, where he has also attended courses on Chamber music and a specialisation course on trios, sustained by the Trieste Trio.

He also studied musical duos and trios with piano for three years under the conduction Maestro P. Masi at the Accademia Musicale di Firenze. He completed several specialisation courses in violin techniques and interpretation with S. Lupu, A. Stern, A. Bologni, and C. Rossi;

Tavani performs regularly in concerts both as a solo artist and as a member of a chamber orchestras like Gruppi da Camera dell' OGI , Solisti del Teatro Bellini di Catania , Nuovi Cameristi Italiani , Complesso da camera di Luni , Camerata Musicale , Paganini Consort , Complessi da Camera del Teatro del Giglio di Lucca , Accademia Strumentale Toscana , Musici Mundi , and Solisti Fiorentini.

He has also performed with the following orchestras:

• 1988-89: Orchestra Giovanile Italiana
• 1990: Charleston/Spoleto Festival Orchestra, 33° Festival dei Due Mondi
• 1991-92: Teatro Bellini Orchestra in Catania
• 1992: Spoleto festival Orchestra, 35° festival dei Due Mondi
• 1993-94: Orchestra Sinfonica della RAI in Rome, Orchestra dell'Opera di Roma , Orchestra Internazionale d'Italia
• 1994-95: Orchestra Regionale Toscana , 1996-1999: Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
• 1999: Orchestra Regionale Toscana, Teatro La Fenice Orchestra in Venice, Teatro Lirico Orchestra in Cagliari, Pomeriggi Musicali in Milan
• 1999-2000: He performed as second violin for the opera season, Città Lirica for the theatres in Pisa, Livorno and Lucca, Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano , Orchestra A. Toscanini in Parma, Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (First violins concert), Teatro Lirico in Cagliari
• 2000: The winner of the First Violin competition for the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino , which he is currently employed

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Elisabetta Sepe - Piano teacher

Elisabetta Sepe born in Florence, has studied piano with Lucia Passaglia, Pietro Rigacci, Riccardo Risaliti, Dario De Rosa. Perfected her skills in Paris with J. Bourgès-Manoury, who continued the of Dinu Lipatti, receiving the "Prix d'excellence" of the city's national conservatory. Has also attended courses with Aquilles delle Vigne, Murray Perahia and Maurizio Pollini.

In addition to the humanistic studies she received diplomas in Piano, Didactics of Music, Choir Music and Choir Conducting and followed courses of Composition, Vocal Chamber and Instrumental Music, Organ, Harpsichord and Basso Continuo, Orchestra Conducting, Semiology of Gregorian Chant, Musicology, Musical Analysis, Choir Repertoire. She also received a diploma of perfection in choir conducting at the end professional triennial formation course organized by the "Guido d'Arezzo" in collaboration with the comunidade européia.

Her musical carrier started when she was ten years old when in concert she conducted a composition of hers for a small orchestra. After that, at seventeen she debuted in a piano recital in the "Salone de' Dugento" in the "Palazzo Vecchio". Later came an intense concert activity as a soloist, with an orchestra, or with chamber music groups in important associations and music centers such as the room "E. Varese" of Paris, the "Borse Festsaal" in Viena, the Festival di Recklinghausen (Germany), the "Musicus Concentus" and the "Teatro Comunale di Firenze", the "Amici della Musica" of Modena, Arezzo, the "Teatro Comunale di Ferrara", the "Teatro Verdi di Pisa", the society of the concerts of La Spezia and of Ravello, the "Associazione Musicale Etnea di Catania".

She is dedicated with passion also to the chamber music with singers such as Alessandro Corbelli, Eva Mei, Susanna Rigacci. Colaborates with the courses of Illustrious faculty (Agnes Giebel, Rolando Panerai, Marcella Reale) with whom she also develops concerts. She works as an accompaniment pianist in many operas and since 1999 is collaborator maestro in the "Teatro Comunale di Firenze" where she has worked with famous directors among them Zubin Mehta, Seji Ozawa, Daniel Oren, Bruno Bartoletti, Ivor Bolton.

Collaborates stably since 1991 with concert and cultural activites of "Firenze Lirica" and of "Foyer" of which she is the current artistic director.

She was protagonist of many meaningful manifestations, among which the collaboration as a pianist in the Rolando Panerai for the 50 year anniversary of her carrier and the execution of a paraphrase about the Verdinian times written by her in the occasion of giving the prize "L'aria di Baule" to Fedora Barbieri.

Since 1996 she is the director of the vocal group "Novi Cantores" di Firenze, and since 2004 of the choir "Harmonia Cantata". She is a complementary piano teacher of the "Conservatorio Statale di Musica di Latina". In 1998 she recorded two cycles of chamber vocal music of Gaetano Donizetti for the Bongiovanni com Susanna Rigacci e William Matteuzzi discographic house.

In 2003 she founded the duet "Consonanza" with Ladislao Petru Horvath, who plays as first violin of the "Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino", with which she has recently finished the integral execution of the sonatas of Bach with the soloists of the Royal Konzertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam.

In September of 2006 did a tour in Japan with the teatro Del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino as a pianist of the maestro Zubin Mehta.

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Simone Ori - Piano Teacher - Napolitan Music Interpretation - Vocal Group Music and Intrumental Music

Simone Ori was born in the city of Prato. He finished his musical studies in Florence at the Cherubini Conservatory under the orientation of Giovanni Cicconi (piano), Piero Bellugi (orchestra director), A. Riccardo Luciani (partition reading), Michele Ignelzi (musical analysis).

Nowadays he has been concluding his Organ (with Mariella Mochi and Federico Del Sordo), and Crave (with Annaberta Conti) studies. He has been specializing in antique music under the orientation of Claudio Astonio for organ and bass, and Eric Lebrun for organ.

Since 1999, he hs been an Augusto Vismara's assistant in the co-productions between the conservatories and the Piccolo Teatro Comunale in Florence. In this theater he has performed for the first time as an opera director in 2001.

• Since 2003, he has prepared the Orchestra del Festival di S. Fiora with many members from several Italian orchestras (Maggio Musicale Theater, Santa Cecilia, Scala di Milano, S. Carlo di Napoli, Fenice di Venezia and RAI di Torino ). He is also a J. Salenkour's (G. Solti's and D. Baremboin's assistant) and M. Zanetti's assistant (C. Abbado's colaborator)
• Since 2000, he has been the pianist for the Orchestra Direction training given by Alessandro Pinzauti
• In 2004, he started collaborating with the "Camerata Strumentale Città di Prato" and the "Orchestra Regionale Toscana" as a pianist and organist
• Since 2002, he has been the main director of "Nuova Orchestra Labronica"

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Vittorio Ceccanti - Cello Professor

Vittorio Ceccanti started studying the Cello at the age of 5, and has performed his first "concert" to an audience of seven people. After being graduated with distinction at the Cherubini Conservatory in Florence under the orientation of Andrea Nannoni, Vittorio went to study with such recognized musicians as: Yo Yo Ma, Mischa Maisky, David Geringas, Valentin Berlinsky, Anner Bijlsma, Karine Georgian, Alain Meunier, Riccardo Brengola, the Trieste Trio and the Milano Trio. Since 1996, he has been one of Natalia Gutman's 5 pupils at the Hochschule in Stuttgart, where he concluded his master's in Cello and his degree as a soloist (Solistenklasse) with highest marks.

Vittorio has won national and international competitions and prizes such as:

• first place plus a special Honourable mention of merit at the "City of Vittorio Veneto" competition in 1989
• a diploma from the Eurovision competition in Vienna in 1990
• the European Yamaha Music Foundation award in 1992
• the special "Libero Lana" award and the International "Trio of Trieste" Competition in 1996
• the "Karel Hilsum Prjice" in Amsterdam in 1997

After having performed in Vienna with the Radio Orf Orchestra, being conducted by Pinchas Steinberg in 1990, and in Naples at the Teatro San Carlo by Pier Luigi Urbini in 1991, Vittorio was called to perform at the concert for the winners of Eurovision Competitions, which was broadcasted by the RAI TV. Since then, he has been regularly invited to perform as a solo artist in many concerts and festivals in Italy and abroad: Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Cité de la Musique in Paris, Festival of Prague, Festival of Lyon, Chigiana Music Week, Amici della Musica in Firenze, Vicenza and Palermo, Teatro Rendano in Cosenza, Festival of Ravello, Festival of Todi, Festival Pontino, in Rome for Radio Tre Suite, RAI International and at the Acquario.

He currently participates in the Trio Artes and the Contempoartensemble (of which he is the president since foundation). He has recorded 5 CDs with the music of Berio, Boulez, Sciarrino, Steve Reich, Schoenberg e Vacchi, among which he executed the cello solo of "Les mots sont allés." by L. Berio, and the trio for strings op. 45 by Schoenberg, and played the first ever executions by F. Vacchi (for trio with piano), by Peter Maxwell Davies (Trio for strings) and by L. Berio ("Chanson" for Pierre Boulez-cello solo).

Vittorio also recorded the music of F. Vacchi for BMG-Records, among which we have "In alba mia dir." - solo for cello, for the soundtrack of the film "Il mestiere delle armi" by Ermanno Olmi. He also collaborates as the first cello soloist with the RAI's National Symphonic Orchestra.

Vittorio, since 1996, has been teaching the cello at the G. Verdi Music School in Prato, and he was invited by the Accademia Chigiana in Siena as Assistant Instrumental Maestro for the composition courses in 2000 and 2001, held by Azio Corghi; and he has been called by the Accademia Musicale in Florence to give special courses for cello since January 2002. Recently he has had a huge success with the Trio Artes during their long tour in Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay).

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Duccio Ceccanti - Violino Professor

Duccio Ceccanti was b orn in a family of musicians. Duccio began studying violin at the age of 5 under the instruction of his father. He received his diploma with full honours, at a very young age under the conduction of Andrea Tacchi, at the Luigi Cherubini Conservatory in Florence, and he was awarded the Fondazione Banca F. del Vecchio prize as the best scholar.

He was awarded a diploma of merit five tiems, and won the G. Chigi scholarship at the Accademia Chigiana , attending courses held by Uto Ughi, Boris Belkin, Riccardo Brontola and Alain Meunier. At the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole , Duccio attended courses held by the Trio Trieste and by the Trio di Milano . He also attended graduation courses held by Stofan Gheorhiu and Felix Andriewski. His specialisation was completed at the conservatory in Maastricht with Boris Belkin, and at the W.Stauffer foundation with Salvatore Accardo in Cremona.

He has played for many important institutions and festivals like Teatro la Fenice in Venice, Teatro Massimo in Palermo, Sala Bossi in Bologne, Aula Magna dell'Università degli Studi in Rome, Associazione Alessandro Scarlatti in Naples, Accademia Chigiana , Amici della Musica in Vicenza, Cantiere Internazionale d'Arte di Montepulciano , Estate Fiesolana , Acquario Romano , Teatro Metastasio in Prato, International Festival in Prague, and has toured in France, Germany, Spain, and Portugal.

Duccio has performed the firts S. Bussotti and L. Berio compositions. He has recorded: "Pierrot Lunaire" by A. Schönberg for ARTS with the Contempoartensemble (a soloist), The trio for strings by Schönberg and Schubert with the Artes Trio and, with the pianist Vovsk Ashkenazy the quartet op. 47 by Schumann.

He has contributed to the Italian Chamber Orchestra which was founded and directed by Salvatore Accardo with whom he has recorded for the EMI, FONE, and FONIT CETRA music labels, and with whom he has toured in Italy, South America, China, and Japan.

He teaches at "G. Verdi" music school in Prato, and since the summer of 2000 he is also an assistant maestro of instruments for the specialization course held by F. Donatoni and A. Corghi at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena.

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Nuccio D'Angelo - Guitar teacher

Nuccio D'Angelo started playing music at the age of six, and immediately showed a remarkable interest for the guitar and for compositions. His most important teachers have been Alvaro Company for the guitar, and Gaetano Giani-Luporini for composition.

He has performed in concerts as a soloist in Italy, Greece, Holland, France, USA, Canada, Germany, and Portugal.

He was awarded the first prize at the "Festival of contemporary music" (Tokyo 1984) with "Due Canzoni Lidie" and the "A. Segovia" competition in Almunecar (1991) with "Magie". He won a special prize in 1996 at "The European International Competition for Composer" in New York , and at "La chitarra d'oro per la composizione" (Alessandria - 1997).

His music has been admired by musicians like L. Brouwer, T. Riley, R. Smith-Brindle, R. Aussel , A. Pierri, and it has been played and recorded by famous guitarists: "Due Canzoni Lidie" was already recorded nine times. He teaches classical guitar at the "P. Mascagni Musical Institute" in Livorno, and guitar and composition in Rome, Lucca, Macerata, Agropoli, Florence, Portoferraio (Elba), Catania, Monza, USA, Canada, Hamburg and Marktoberdorf (Monaco).

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Andrea Marchetti - Oboe professor

Andrea Marchetti was born and grew up in Florence. He has been graduated at the Luigi Cherubini conservatory under the conduction of G. Patroniti. He continued his musical training doing a specialization course in Chamber Music at the Accademia Chigiana , and in Oboe at the Hochschule Mozarteum in Salzburgo, under the direction of Hansjorg Schellenberger, the first oboe musician from the Berlin Philharmonic.

Andrea has been developing a career as soloist in concerts with chamber groups and orchestras for events like Il Maggio Musicale Fiorentino , Musicus Concentus (under the direction of Luciano Berio), Accademia Internazionale di Salisburgo , "Insieme Barocco Fiorentino" , "Amici della Musica" from Arezzo and Florence University Orchestra.

Among his records it is remarkable the "Il Figlio dell'Uomo" and "Frate Francesco" (by the maestro C. Terni) with the Florentine group Musica Instrumentalis for the Phonographic Editions and Pro Civitate Christiana-Assisi Concerts.

Andrea has also graduated in Education at the Florence University. His interest in helping disabled people made him conciliate his career as a musician with teaching activities in special schools and institutions in Florence its suburbs.

He teaches at "G. Verdi" music school in Prato, and since the summer of 2000 he is also an assistant maestro of instruments for the specialization course held by F. Donatoni and A. Corghi at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena.

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David Bellugi - Flute Professor

David Bellugi is a virtuous flutist and also a recorder, concert and studio musician, Macintosh-enthusiast, Sound Desinger editor, and part owner of a Florence-based record company.

David has a B.A. in Applied Musicology which he received Summa cum Laude from the University of California in San Diego(USA), where he studied with Bernhardt-Ambros Batschelet (flute), Robert Erickson and Bernard Rands (composition), Anthony Newman (harpsichord), Thomas Nee (conducting), and Bertram Turetzky (advisor for musicology). He continued his musical research in Early Music performance practices under the trining with Antoine Geoffroy-Dechaume in Paris (a student of Early Music pioneer, Arnold Dolmetsch).

David has performed as a soloist with many orchestras including: the RAI-Torino , Radio France-Paris , Radio France-Lille , Radio della Svizzera Italiana , as well as with the orchestras of Bari, Cagliari, Cordoba, Emilia-Romagna, Firenze, Harvard University, Milano, Padova, Palermo, Sanremo, and Torino. He has also performed in recitals and concert/lectures in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, England, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, and in the U.S.A.

He has performed several pieces of work (Luciano Berio, Nuccio D'Angelo, Ugalberto de Angelis, Dan Locklair, A. Riccardo Luciani, Carlo Prosperi, and Giulio Viozzi have dedicated their creations to Bellugi), being always successful.

Bellugi teaches Flute at the "Luigi Cherubini" Conservatory in Florence, Italy.

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Stefano Margheri - Flute Professor

Professor Margheri began his studies and was graduated with highest marks at the Cherubini Conservatory in Florence under the orientation of Maestro Alfieri and Professor Di Sabatino. He has done specialisation with K. Klemm and A. Marion, and he has also attended chamber music courses held by Maestro Franco Rossi.

In his career, he has preformed as a soloist for the Florence's Chamber ensemble (Complesso Cameristico di Firenze) as well as for other ensembles, among which the "J. Francaix" winds quintet" by which he won the Stresa International Competition.

He has performed with the Maggio Musicale Fiorentina orchestra, the ORT (regional orchestra of Tuscany), the International Orchestra of Italy and many others. Performing with these orchestras, he has also had the opportunity to record many pieces of music and take part in numerous concerts with some of the finest directors: Riccardo Muti, Zubin Mehta, and Carlo Maria Giulini.

His soloist performances also include recordings of concerts for flute by J. S. Bach for a national TV network. Interested in contemporary music, Professor Margheri is involved in the execution and promotion of contemporary pieces of music, written by young composers. Nowadays Stefano Margheri is the first flutist for the Florentine Chamber Orchestra, and a component of the Michelangelo Ensemble.

He teaches flute at the music school of Sesto Fiorentino and he is also the principal of the flute department at the "Guicciardini Poliziano" music school as well as of the music department of Istituto Europeo.

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Our study abroad programs in Florence are designed for college students and people of any age and professional background. You can study abroad in Italy for semester and academic year or just for a few weeks. You can start your study abroad program any Monday. You can combine intensive Italian language immersion courses with music, art and culture courses or study just one subject your are interested in.

Please follow the links below to learn more about our Italian language, Italian music, art and culture courses.

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Click here to apply for Italian Language, music, art and culture courses.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to the Florence Academy of Music, Art and Italian Language in Florence, Italy!