Musical partnership with the Iceland University – Students and teachers of the “Claudio Monteverdi” Conservatory at the Iceland University of the Arts in Reykjavik for an Erasmus exchange
From the 5th to the 9th of September 2023 an artistic exchange took place at the Iceland University of the Arts in Reykjavik. Luca Macchi, Professor of Composition, and Maurizio Colasanti, Professor of Ensemble Music for Wind Instruments at the “Claudio Monteverdi” Conservatory were involved within the framework of the Erasmus mobility program.
In addition to the masterclasses held by Prof. Macchi for Icelandic students, concerts and accompanying workshops were organised that were participated in by Conservatory composition students Simon Stampfer and Stefano Boccia (who also studies harp). Instrumental students Martina Brazzo (flute), Sarah Brunner (clarinet), Giacomo Meroni (percussion), and Chiara Prenestini (double bass) also took part.
The Erasmus+ ‘European Mobility for Schools’ programme provides learning experiences abroad that stimulate professional growth and the development of new skills for students and teachers. Mobility to programme countries is funded by the EU. This recent encounter with students from Reykjavik brought not only inspiration and ideas, but also provided a profitable and lively exchange that will undoubtedly open the door to new collaborations and friendships in the future.
The final concert took place on the 8th of September 2023, in which a 10-piece ensemble made up of students from Bolzano and Iceland and directed by Prof. M. Maurizio Colasanti played works by Prof. Luca Macchi, Simon Stampfer, and four composition students from the University of Reykjavik. The concert received widespread approval from the attending audience. We are now awaiting the arrival of our colleagues from Iceland in Bolzano.
Project Bach – Masterclass Erasmus+ with Prof. Sabina von Walther (Singing) and Prof. Arnaldo De Felice (Oboe), a cooperation of the Conservatory Monteverdi of Bolzano and the Conservatori Superior de Música “Joaquín Rodrigo” de València
From the 3rd to the 5th of April a program of cantatas by J.S. Bach with obligatory instrument has been carried out, being part of an innovative project within the Erasmus+ programme, focused on the study and the joint interpretation of J.S. Bach’s cantatas by the Departments Lied and Oratorio, wind Instruments and Stringed Instruments of the Conservatory “Claudio Monteverdi” of Bolzano, together with the departments of singing, polyphonic instruments, chamber music and woodwind (oboe) of the Conservatori Superior de Música “Joaquín Rodrigo” de València.
The aim of this project was to fully develop the objectives established by the Erasmus+ programme on curricular development through academic networks and research collaboration, as well as experimenting and developing new learning practices and teaching methods.
The teaching method used, which has proved to be very innovative and successful, was based on the preparation and joint teaching of the whole group of students (singing, oboe, flute and cello) by the participating external teaching staff, Sabina von Walther (Lied and Oratory) and Arnaldo de Felice (Oboe), both from the “Claudio Monteverdi” Conservatory of Bolzano, in addition to the work of the teaching staff of the singing classes, oboe, flute, cello, chamber music and harpsichord from the Superior Conservatory of Music of Valencia. All this coordinated by the Erasmus coordinators of the conservatory and by professors Ofelia Sala (Singing) and Vicente Llimerá (Oboe). The project developed during the month of January of the current year in Bolzano has been presented in Valencia in April 2023.
Bolzano and the Comunitat Valenciana share a common bond with respect to their language and culture. Bolzano is a city with two languages and cultures (Italian and German), while in the Comunitat Valenciana two languages (Valencian and Spanish) and their respective cultural identities coexist.
For all this, this project aimed to establish a link between our institutions to develop programs that promote the interculturality and internationality of our peoples (Bolzano and the Comunitat Valenciana).