Montefiore

July 29 – August 5, 2011
MARCELLO DEFANT, VIOLIN
SEBASTIANO SEVERI, CELLO
RENATO BIZZOTTO, WINDS
GIACOMO BATTARINO, PIANO

www.musicalpassages.org

Violinist Marcello Defant travels extensively in a very active performing and teaching career, which has taken him to China, the United States, France, Spain and throughout Italy. He has also performed in Turkey, Japan, South America, Africa, England, Portugal, Germany and the Netherlands. He studied violin with Ruggiero Ricci, Salvatore Accardo and Franco Mezzena. He was granted his doctorate at the University of Bologna. Beyond his frequent collaborations as concertmaster with orchestras such as the Orchestra Internazionale d'Italia , Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Haydn Orchester in Bolzano, Milano Classica, Orchestra da Camera di Padova e del Veneto , he is currently musical director of the Officina de li Affetti as well as of the Concord chamber music ensemble. He has given masterclasses in France (Moulin d'Andè, Cratoule), Spain (Jimena de la Frontera), Italy (Accademia Musicale Pescarese, Orchestra Giovanile Siciliana, Ripatransone), and China (Kunmin University). He teaches violin at the Giacomo Puccini Conservatory in Gallarate. His discography as soloist is remarkable, since 1996 recordings for the Phoenix Classics label.

Cellist Sebastiano Severi started playing the cello at the age of 7, under the guidance of Lionello Godoli. He then studied at the United World College of the Atlantic from 1992 to 1994 under the guidance of Sharon McKinley. In 1995 he won the First Prize at the Dino Caravita Competition and was awarded the Diploma di Violoncellista at the Royal Philharmonic Academy in Bologna in 1997. In 1998 he received his Diploma at the Giuseppe Verdi Music Conservatory in Milan after having studied with Rocco Filippini. He has been first cellist at the Teatro Regio Orchestra in Turin, Orchestra Internazionale d'Italia, and the Bruno Maderna Orchestra. He also gives duo recitals with cello and guitar, cello and violin, cello and double bass, and plays in many other chamber music groups and ensembles, with a repertoire from early to contemporary music. He plays an Italian cello made by Custode Marcucci in 1897.

Pianist Giacomo Battarino made his debut in Milan at the Circolo della Stampa and since then he has performed at most important Italian music institutions. He has also performed in Austria, France, Romania, Lithuania, Switzerland, Slovenia, Finland, Serbia, Cyprus, Sweden, Denmark, England, China and the United States. He received diplomas with high honours from the Music Conservatory Giuseppe Verdi in Milan, Italy and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in the United States. He studied with Paul Badura-Skoda, Boris Petrushansky, Maria Tipo, Richard Goode, Boris Bloch, Gyorgy Sandor. His recording labels include the French Delatour (M. Trotta’s compositions) and the Italian Philarmonia (“Liszt and Italy”), Base Record and DeVega (“The Opera at the Piano”). Piano Professor at the Conservatory Giuseppe Verdi in Milan, the L.Cherubini in Florence and currently the G.Puccini in Gallarate. He has also served on the faculty of the Universität Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, and the Cyprus College in Nicosia, Cyprus, and was Associate Director at the Casalmaggiore International Festival, in China he was appointed honorary professor of the Shandong University, Weihai, and the Central National University, Beijing (2007).

Oboist Renato Bizzotto was born in Switzerland. After musical studies in Lucerne and Zürich he attendedmasterclasses with Ingo Goritzki and Jan Spronk. He played as principal oboe in the Shanghai and Beijing Symphony Orchestras from2002 until 2005. At present, he plays English horn in the Aargauer Symphonieorchester as well as in the Zürich Opera Orchestra. He teaches oboe at the Alte Kantonsschule Aarau.

The cost per student up to age 28 is €660, €770 for people 29 and over. A reduced price of €380 will be applied for pupils who do not need an accommodation. Visitors and non musicians €380. A promotional discount of 8 % will be granted for applications filed before March 30, 2011. Prices include accommodation in double rooms, full board, instructional fee and application fee. An additional fee of € 160 will be requested for single room accommodation.

Individuals who are accepted for the course will be pre-assigned chamber works to prepare before arrival. These works may be requested by the students if they have a particular interest, and the instructors will make the final assignments. Groups will be assembled from all enrolled students to provide a variety of experiences for all participants. However, groups of students wishing to apply as a pre-formed group may do so. Groups will work together on their assignments and with coaches for several hours per day, and will have a certain amount of free time for additional freelance playing and visiting local sights. The beautiful beaches of the Adriatic are only 10 km. away. Students may also request private lessons on their instrument. A limited number of high quality string instruments are available, free of charge, upon reservation from the Atelier Scrollavezza & Zanrè and Scuola Internazionale di Liuteria R. Scrollavezza, Parma, Italy www.scrollavezza-zanre.com. Reservations must be made with the application and will be fulfilled on a first come first served basis. If you require information about transportation to Montefiore dell'Aso, please contact Jane Carhart (carhartjm@aol.com). More information about course methods and musical objectives may be obtained from Marcello Defant (marcello@defant.net). All details of the course may be found on the website www.musicalpassages.org.

The course begins on Friday, July 29 and finishes on Friday, August 5, 2011 Applications and application fees should be sent to Jane Carhart/Musical Passages no later than April 30, 2011. Final payment is due by June 17, 2011. A late payment fee of € 25 will be added after that date.

Study chamber music in Italy this summer with outstanding performers and teachers in an atmosphere of medieval charm and artistic splendor. Young musicians from several countries who wish to perfect their knowledge of chamber music will have a chance to gather in small ensembles including strings, piano and winds. Priority is given to students aged 16 to 28, but older players will be accepted if they apply in pre-formed groups or if their instrument and playing level allows them to complete student groups. Visitors are also welcome, space permitting. Housing and meals will be provided in the Hotel del Parco, located in a beautiful natural park, only a couple of minutes walk from the city center. Lessons will be held in the “Polo Museale di San Francesco”, the cit’s Fine Arts Museum situated in an ancient cloister. The museum contains precious paintings by Carlo Crivelli and other artists of Le Marche. Montefiore is a lovely medieval town close to the Adriatic Sea in central Italy. It offers a wealth of artistic and historical monuments and the local cuisine is really delicious. (www.comune.montefioredellaso.ap.it).

Classes will be taught in Italian or English by well-known musicians who concertize throughout Europe, America and the Far East. They are also conservatory or university faculty in their chosen fields, and outstanding teachers committed to working with young musicians.