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Sharing music, experiences gained during one’s artistic career and considerations about repertoire, piano interpretation, study methodology and the future of the performing arts. To share a magical space, immersed in the beauty of nature and equipped with all comforts, a brand new piano room equipped for professional sound recordings, spacious rooms with a view and even a SPA. This will be the philosophy behind Piano Symposium, a three-day workshop reserved for a small group of pianists: an opportunity to work closely with two young and established artists, winners of international prizes and authors of prestigious recordings, but above all enthusiastic about sharing what they have learned (and continue to learn) through in-depth study with outstanding teachers and a concert activity in full swing.
The course is open to pianists of all ages and repertoire predilections. The pieces indicated at the time of enrolment will be studied individually, observing the technical, stylistic and interpretative aspects. There are no maximum limits on the amount of repertoire to be proposed: it will be agreed with the teachers on which pieces to focus particular attention; the minimum limit is fifteen to twenty minutes of music.
A solid musical education and the confluence of many different teaching and professional experiences have contributed to making Alberto Chines a lively and multifaceted artist.
The young Palermo-born pianist trained at the Imola Academy with Franco Scala and Piero Rattalino, and at the Bolzano Conservatory with Davide Cabassi.
At the age of fifteen he made his debut at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo and in 2011 he won first prize at the “Palma d’Oro” International Piano Competition in Finale Ligure. In 2013 he was the winner of the Sony Classical Talent Scout in Madesimo and, in 2014, the second prize at the Euregio Piano Award (Geilenkirchen, Germany). He has performed at the Sala Mozart of the Accademia Filarmonica in Bologna, at the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, at the Politeama Garibaldi in Palermo, at the Van Cliburn Recital Hall in Fort Worth (Texas) and in Spain, Portugal, England, France and Germany.
He recently made his debut in London for the Keyboard Charitable Trust and at the Tiroler Festspiele Erl (Austria), and his first CD with music by Bach, Schumann, Ravel and Bartók has just been released (BAM International). Alberto Chines is also very active in chamber music, collaborating with violist Anna Serova, guitarist Eugenio Della Chiara and has over the years followed several projects in trio (Trio Casa Bernardini), quartet and quintet. He has also created the international concert series Musica Manent Festival (Ustica) and collaborates with the Primavera di Baggio in Milan.
Alberto Chines has been a Steinway Artist since 2020 and holds the chair of piano at the Conservatorio ‘G. Frescobaldi’ in Ferrara.
Winner of the ‘Raymond E. Buck’ Jury Prize at the 2017 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Leonardo Pierdomenico is described by international critics as ‘a pianist in whom marked technical ability and care for sound are married with imagination and inexhaustible, painstaking musicality’ (Patrick Rucker, Gramophone UK). He is also the winner of the 28th Venice Prize at the La Fenice Theatre, at only 18 years of age.
This has led to collaborations with orchestras of the calibre of the Fort Worth Symphony, the Orchestre Royal De Chambre de Wallonie, the Teatro La Fenice Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra Verdi di Milano, the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra, the North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and conductors such as Yves Abel, Diego Matheuz, Nicholas McGegan, James P. Liu and Jan Kucera among others.
Leonardo is a guest in major Italian and international concert halls, including: the Sala Verdi of the Conservatorio and the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, the Teatro La Fenice in Venice, the Salle Moliére in Lyon, the Maison de la radio in Paris, the Filharmonia Narodowa in Warsaw, the Flagey in Brussels, the Chopin Festival in Nohant, the Liszt Festival at the TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht, the Bass Hall in Fort Worth (TX), the Merkin concert hall in New York, the Qin’tai Concert Hall in Wuhan in China, the Bologna Festival, the Settimane musicali at the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, the Fazioli Concert Hall. Highlights of 2022 include his debut in the chamber music season of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, with the first Italian performance of Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms in Shostakovic’s arrangement for piano duo and choir, and the recording for Brilliant Classics of Dvoràk’s Piano Concerto with the
Czech Philharmonic Chamber, Orchestra conducted by Vahan Mardirossian. He already has three records to his credit with the Piano Classics label: his debut album, dedicated to works by Franz Liszt, earned an Editor’s Choice from Gramophone UK magazine and a nomination as disc of the year at the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik (the German music critics’ union award).
Born in Abruzzo, Leonardo completed his studies at the conservatory in Pescara and in 2017 he completed the piano masterclass at the Accademia Nazionale di S. Cecilia in Rome in the class of Maestro Benedetto Lupo, obtaining full marks and honours. In 2016, he won a scholarship to attend the Music Academy of the West in California, collaborating with masters of the calibre of Jeremy Denk, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Jerome Lowenthal, Julian Martin and Leon Fleisher. He continued his studies at the Foggia Conservatory, where he graduated with honours and special mention under the guidance of Maestro Alessandro Deljavan, and is currently a student at the Lake Como International PianoAcademy.
A fervent chamber musician, Leonardo Pierdomenico collaborates regularly in duo with cellist Erica Piccotti and occasionally with the first parts of the most important Italian orchestras. Leonardo is a regular guest on Rai radio3 (in programmes such as Radio3 suite, I concerti del Quirinale, La stanza della musica). His recordings and live performances have also been broadcast by web stations such as Medici.tv and radio and television stations such as RTBF (Belgium) and Radio France.
Leonardo currently teaches principal piano at the ‘U. Giordano’ Conservatory in Foggia and at the Avos Academy in Rome.
Attendance as an actual student is €380; maximum 9 students.
Free access for auditors (subject to availability and to health regulations).
Lessons begin on 13/10/2023 and end on 15/10/2023 (total no. 3 effective days). The course will be held in English/Italian.
Lessons will be held at CDM’s premises.
The cost of the course includes:
2 individual lessons with Leonardo Pierdomenico
2 individual lessons with Alberto Chines
Talks on topics of artistic interest
One session of introduction to yoga, with in-depth breathing exercises aimed at performance,
body awareness and psychophysical well-being
Performance of the pieces presented during the masterclass in a public concert
Use of study spaces, whose hours will be self-managed by the students and coordinated with
the activities taking place.
Issue of certificates of participation authenticated by the teacher and the organisation
Board, lodging and use of the Spa on the premises
the possibility, in the days following the course, to stay at CdM San Michele to professionally
record at an advantageous price. For further information, please write to cdmsanmichele@gmail.com
Deadline for registration is: 15 September 2023.
Applications will be sent by email to masterclasscdm@gmail.com and must contain:
The list of participants in the masterclass will be announced by 20 September; payment by bank transfer must be made by 25 September. Upon payment of the fee, enrolment in the course is confirmed. Any payment and bank charges are the responsibility of the participant.
Payment details
Account holder: Casa San Michele di Giulia Pastorino
IBAN: IT33T0326848450052377593130
BIC/SWIFT: SELBIT2BXXX
Reason of payment: Name and Surname, Deposit for stay
Casa della Musica San Michele offers an accommodation service and full board on the premises included in the price. If necessary, the structure is available to those who wish to stay the night before or after the beginning and the end of the course (upon reservation) at an additional cost of €35 per night. The cost includes overnight stay in a double or triple room with private bathroom; water is always available in the common area of CDM; other consumptions will be considered extra. The use of the SPA is included, limited to the times agreed on the occasion of the course and in accordance with current regulations. Rubber slippers (non-slip) and a swimming costume are compulsory for use of the SPA.
The balance of any extras can also be paid on the spot by credit or debit card or bank transfer.
Please note that in the village of Montaldeo there are no tobacconists, pharmacies or ATMs; all necessary services are easily accessible by car or bicycle in the neighboring villages.
The nearest railway stations are Ovada, Novi Ligure, Arquata Scrivia; a transfer service is available from the arrival station to Montaldeo at a cost of €15. The nearest airports are Turin, Milan, Genoa, with respective train connections. For those traveling by car, Google Maps shows the exact location by searching for “Casa San Michele Montaldeo”; the nearest motorway exits are Ovada (A26), Novi Ligure (A26/A7), Arquata Scrivia (A7).
Registration fees, net of bank charges, will not be refundable under any circumstances, except in the event of cancellation of the course by the organisers. In the event of cancellation due to force majeure, the course may be rescheduled: in the event of cancellation by the participant on the proposed new dates, half of the total amount will be refunded.
N.B. Enrolment in Piano Symposium implies full and complete adhesion to all the points described in these regulations.
Casa San Michele di Giulia Pastorino // Partita IVA: IT02568410068
