MATTEO DENTELLATO, piano
With a diploma in classical piano, Matteo perfected his technique while working with prestigious musicians at the Conservatory “Morlacchi” of Perugia in the “International Musical Interpretation” program studying under Maestro Guido Agosti. Matteo also took part in the “Composition and Analysis of Modern Music” program at the music school of Fiesole studying under Maestro Sylvano Bussotti. At the Music Academy of Pescara under Maestro Franco Donatoni, he studied “Modern Composition” and shortly there after headed to Paris to complete various seminars in electronic music through IRCAM. He was chosen to record a concert for R.A.I television as a promising young pianist. In the field of contemporary and electronic music, Matteo has performed in numerous concerts for theatre and dance. As the director of the Centro Cultura Contemporanea of Florence, Matteo was asked to compose “background music” to be used in an installation project of young artists from Berlin. Aside from the performance aspect of his career, Matteo specializes in music education and has taken part in numerous courses in new teaching methods for children that he utilizes during his informative courses for children and their parents enlightening the relationship between children’s literature and music. His work in this field has been represented at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome and at the Teatro Comunale in Florence. Maestro Dentellato is currently the director of “Il Trillo” School of Music in Florence.
MARIA CLARA MEDINA, piano
Maria Clara received her diploma in classical piano from the Conservatory of Florence under C. Saldicco and in chamber music under Piernarciso Masi at the International Piano Academy (“Incontri con il maestro di Imola”). She perfected her technique studying under V. Berman. She graduated with honors from the University of Florence with a degree in philosophy (Prof. S. Givone). Her thesis was based on the many philosophies and theories of music. She has received many first place prizes in various national competitions. She studied at the Salzburg Summer Academy with S.Perticaroli taking part in master-classes by Piernarsciso Masi and Aquiles Delle Vigne. As a soloist and a chamber musician, Maria Clara performs frequently throughout Italy and Europe (Lugano, Trani, Paris, France, Salzburg, Rome etc..). A part from her performing career, she maintains a private studio teaching piano and chamber music. She also organizes concerts, master-classes and seminars on music-teaching methods in addition to a variety of standard music courses. In collaboration with the city of Florence and the state school system, Maria Clara also organizes musical activities and awareness for the young musici
EMANUELE PROIETTI, piano
Emanuele received his degree in Piano at the Conservatory “L. Cherubini” in Florence. He attended courses in Chamber Music with Filippo Burchietti and Pier Narciso Masi as well as Modern Harmony with Riccardo Galardini. He participated in workshops including “Jazz Composition and Arrangement” with Bruno Tommaso and “Jazz Composition and Improvisation” with Mauro Grossi. In 2005, he received his degree in Jazz Music after completing a three-year course at the Istituto “P. Mascagni” in Livorno. From 2004 to 2006 he took part in a course regarding the History of Afro-American Music with Stefano Zenni and from 2005 to 2007 he studied Jazz Piano with Alessandro Galati. In January 2007, he trained with the SIdMA Jazz Orchestra, during the “Chieti in Jazz” Festival. He has participated in numerous concerts as a soloist, with chamber music groups and with orchestra and was a finalist in numerous national piano competitions. In 2002, he started collaborating with a group of musicians performing music by singer-songwriter Antonio Castiello. The group performs in various venues in Tuscany and recently recorded an album entitled “Rosso piccolo”. Since 2003, he has been performing with different groups in clubs and for public and private events.
SIMONE BUTINI, violin
Simone Butini has studied with Moreno Volpini and Edoardo Perpich and received his diploma from the “Mascagni” Conservatoire in Livorno, Italy under the guidance of maestro Domenico Pierini (first violinist of the “Maggio Musicale Fiorentino” in Florence). He perfected his technique by attending courses organized at the Umbria Music Academy and later on the MIMESIS project, a training course at the theatre of the “Maggio Musical Fiorentino”. He regularly performs both as soloist as well as with chamber ensembles and orchestras such as the Symphonic Orchestra of Grosseto, the Maggio Musical Fiorentino, the Italian Chamber Orchestra and the Italian Ensemble. He has performed under directors such as Lanzetta, Zanetti, Salemkur, Nir Kabaretti, Bellugi and Zubin Mehta. He has been a member of the “Artemide” quartet since 2003. Butini currently teaches violin at the school of music “Il Trillo” in Florence, Italy.
ANTONIO SCARAMUZZINO, classic guitar
He teaches classic guitar, lute and mandolin. He studied with Leo Brouwer and David Russell. He's constantly reseraching and discovering new methods and techniques for guitar and mandolin, ancient music (“Cantigas de Santa Maria”, “Libre Vermell”, “Carmina Burana”, medieval Italian dance), renaissance music (ricercari, danze, villanelle, traditional and folk) and contemporary. music. Along with his teaching, Antonio is part of several chamber ensembles, through them continuing his academic research. As a concert musician, he participates in various festivals and renaissance/medieval conventions in Italy and throughout Europe (France, Urbino, Pesaro, Rimini, Ancona,etc.). He plays with the medieval and renaissance ensemble “Laudare et delectare” whom have been critically acclaimed.
NICOLETTA MAGGINO, voice (bel canto)
She began training as an opera singer at 15. She attended master classes of renowned opera singers (Gino Bechi, Giuseppe Taddei, Ileana Cotrubas, Walter Blazer, Julia Hamari, Elly Ameling) and completed her musical studies at the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole taking part in numerous concerts (in Italy and abroad), opera performances (Teatro Comunale di Firenze, Teatro La Scala di Milano) and musical competitions. She teaches young opera singers and introduces them to classical repertoire. She prepares soloists and choruses in order to participate in auditions for theater and recording performances, concerts, contests, television programs, and opera performances (Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Festival dei Due Mondi di Spoleto, Festival Mozart di Rovereto, Festival Pucciniano di Torre del Lago, Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova, Teatro Romano di Fiesole, Orchestra Regionale Toscana). She collaborated with artists such as Z. Mehta, G. Sinopoli, R. Abbado, S. Osawa, L. Dodin, D. Dorn, C. Saura. She taught opera, gave singing-technique advice and directed choruses at Scuola di Musica di Fiesole (from 1986 to 2000). In 2000 she began teaching opera and singing-technique at “Scuola di Musica Il Trillo” in Florence. She is a specialist in teaching BelCanto technique and has great experience in teaching Italian diction to singers and students from all around the world.
TIZIANO BARBAFIERA, voice
(classical and contemporary)
Tiziano was born in
Volterra and graduated in Performing Arts from the University of Florence. He also holds a diploma from the
Conservatory “L.Cherubini” in Florence.
His career began after being accepted into the prestigious young artist
program at Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.
His stage debut in La Boheme was
part of the Pavarotti International Festival in Modena directed by Maestro
Leone Magiera and supervised by the great tenor himself. He has sang in numerous theatres
throughout Italy including: Comunale Bologna, Boboli Gardens-Florence, Duomo di
Amalfi, Teatro La Pergola of Florence, Torre del Lago – Puccini Festival,
Comunale di Modena and many more.
He was given the unique opportunity to sing for the arrival of the torch
in Florence during the winter Olympic games in Torino 2006. His international career has taken him
to the USA (various concert venues), Belgrade (National Auditorium), Denmark
(Fulgsocenter), Mexico (Theatre of the Rep.), Monaco, Japan and many more. Mr.Barbafiera is also a composer having
produced in the Festival of Arts 2007 his musical Dracula. His interest in the genre musical
theatre has led him to play various roles such as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar.
ASAKO UCHIMURA, vocal coach/collaborative piano
Ms.Uchimura started
studying piano at the age of 4 at the YAMAHA School of Music in Japan. She graduated from the University of
Sapporo (Japan) in voice performance with honors. During that time, she was asked to be a soloist in the
University’s performance of A.Vivaldi’s Gloria. She then found herself in Italy at the
Conservatory Luigi Cherubini of Florence where she holds a diploma in piano
performance under the guidance of Sonja Pahor. While at the Italian Conservatory she continued her voice
studies under Marta Taddei. She
went on to perform in numerous master classes and competitions, receiving
various accolades and first prizes.
Her operatic resume includes Mother in Hansel und Gretel, Marie in La
sposa venduta (where she was awarded the “City Artist” in the Sapporo
Festival of Arts) and Cherubino in Le
nozze di Figaro with the Classic Concerts Association. Asako is a regular performer and can be
found in recital for mediums. She
was selected as collaborative pianist of the L.T.L Opera Studio session 2008
and has since set her focus on ensemble and collaborative work. As of 2006, Asako
Uchimura is the resident accompanist and vocal coach at Il Trillo School of
Music in Florence, Italy.
ILARIA CECCHERINI, voice (modern)
She began her studies of modern singing with Susy Bellucci and later continued with Mya Fracassini, Stefania Scarinzi at the CAM School of Music in Scandicci and privately with Valerio del Piccolo and Titta Nesti for improvisation. In 1996, she attended the Berklee School Clinics in Perugia. In 1998, she took part in a vocal seminar with Tiziana Ghiglioni and in 2005, a scat workshop with Sheila Jordan. Mainly interested in ethnic music, she sings blues and jazz with a variety of bands, among which: the acid jazz group Urban Tribe. She sang in the gospel choir Vocimania for ten years, in the praise/gospel sextet Aisha of the Adventist Church in Florence and in the accappella quintet Redi 47, with songs arranged by Leonardo Pieri. Many of her students are singers of the choir Vocimania that she teaches at the Accademia di S. Felice, at the school All Music in Florence and at the Lab Studio in Prato. In 2000, she created a trio, interpreting some of the most known tracks of Joni Mitchell in collaboration with guitarrist Andrea Bonardi and percussionist and drummer Riccardo Innocenti. In 2002, she became a member of the company Kasparhauser were shhe played the role of Eddie in the musical “Rocky Horror Show” and took part in the choir. The musical was a great success at the Sashall Theatre in Florence. She is also one of the four backing vocals in “A Day in the Life”, an original production of the company, based on the music of the Beatles, on stage at the Puccini Theatre in Florence. In 2004, along with the coverband The Rain Dogs see the Light, she sang Tom Waits, in a project "come to life" thanks to Lorenzo Vezzali on the double bass, Ian Da Preda on the vibraphone And Aldo Viti on the drums.
MIRCO DIMITRIO, guitar
(acoustic/electric)
Marco started studying
classic guitar at the early age of nine, under the guidance of Lucio Gammarota
and later, Nuccio D’Angelo.
Throughout the years, Mirco has successfully performed as a soloist and
with various rock groups that he has formed. At the same time, his classic rock career is just as
thriving with the formation of the two idioms (classic and electric) with
guitarist Alex Stornello. He has
participated in courses and seminars of some of the greatest guitarists in the
country such as Steve Vai, John Petrucci, Frank Gambale, Maurizio Colonna and
Carl Verheyen. In 2004, Dimitrio won “Heroicontest” with his two covers by
Queen that were recorded and released on the cd “How our guitar can play”. After this achievement Mirco began to
refine the style of Brian May (guitarist of Queen) paying particular attention
to the orchestration of guitars.
This lead to creating an instructional DVD for Playgame Music entitled
“Play in the style of Brian May”, distributed and sponsored by prestigious
publishing house Carish.
Currently, Mirco is a member of the Mama mia Queen tribute band, a cover
band that has had major success in Italy.
He also plays in the 10 piece funk band “Groovin’ up funky
orchestra”.
LUIS RICARDO DA SILVA SOUSA, drums/percussion
Luis studied under the
guidance of Zequinha Galvao at the School of Music in Brazil, specializing in
percussion and drumming. His
completion of “Corso
Internazional de Verào-Emb” an international summer music program allowed him to work under Josè
Eduardo Nazario. His performing career includes work
with BSB Musical Academy (Brazil), BEMOL Academy of Music (Brazil), and
representing Latin-American music and a special genre of latin-jazz throughout
Europe with other Brazilian musicians such as Armando Chu, Dudu Tuti, Edel
“doctor Samba” and Eudinho Soares.
Luis has collaborated with various musical groups including Tukaia
during his Torino years where they recorded the album “Tukaia….What is
Axe’”. Currently, he is involved
with numerous projects including: Trio Xamegompb (Latin-American Jazz), Balango
Beat (percussion group), Timbales and the Luis Lima Band. He has celebrated many years as a
successful instructor in Italy and is dedicated to teaching his passion.
SIMONE BUTINI, violin
