ACADEMY
VIOLIN
Violin Master's Program in Music Performance and Orchestral Studies
● INTRODUCTION
PALERMO (SICILY), NOVEMBER 2023 TO JULY 2024
The Annual Violin Master’s Program in Music Performance and Orchestral Studies is the first advanced course in Sicily with a specific focus on professional preparation for orchestral auditions and chamber music.
One of the most important goals of this Master’s program is to always consider all aspects of the business world and career opportunities. For this reason we have not only scheduled individual instrument lessons, but have also enriched the Master’s program with workshops and activities in the web and digital fields, which are indispensable today in the career of a performer. You will find professors from the international music scene, important opportunities for interaction, professional and technological spaces, and the support of the MARTHA “family.”
Classes are held at our headquarters, in Palermo, equipped with pianos, community areas, a green court and the energy you need to find perfect focus, meet new colleagues and engage in great professional growth.
● OBJECTIVE
The Master's program includes several appointments designed to guide you toward a successful musical, technical and professional career.
● TEACHERS
Marlène Prodigo
She graduated in violin with top marks at the age of only seventeen, from the “Alfredo Casella” Conservatory in L’Aquila. Subsequently, at the Musikhochschule in Lugano, she earned her diploma of advanced studies and soloist diploma with honors, under the guidance of Carlo Chiarappa, and served as an assistant in his class. She has collaborated with various chamber music ensembles, such as the Contemporary Music Ensemble of the Musikhochschule in Lugano, the Swiss Consort Orchestra of Geneva, the Baroque Ensemble Ad Fontes of Zurich, and has performed for the Festival of Nuova Consonanza in Rome. She has worked with several orchestras and opera institutions: the Youth Orchestra of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia, the Regional Orchestra of Tuscany, the Orchestra of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia, the Orchestra of Teatro alla Scala, the Philharmonic Orchestra of La Scala, and the Haydn Orchestra in Bolzano. She has collaborated with renowned conductors including Barenboim, Chailly, Dudamel, Gatti, Gergiev, Harding, Maazel, Masur, Pappano, Prêtre, Temirkanov, and Zacharias.
Vlad Stanculeasa
He has received first prizes at the George Enescu International Violin Competition, Renata Molinari Competition, Valsesia Musica International Competition, as well as the Enescu Prize in 2007 for the best interpretation of Enescu’s “Impressions d’enfance.” As a soloist, he has performed with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, Basel Chamber Orchestra, Korean Chamber Orchestra, Kammersymphonie Leipzig, and the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra. He has collaborated as a soloist with many conductors, including Kent Nagano, Lahav Shani, Han Na Chang, Konrad von Abel, Joana Carneiro, Min Kim, and Mischa Katz. Currently, he serves as the first violinist of the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra and the Gstaad Festival Orchestra, and he was previously the first violinist of the Basel Symphony Orchestra. He is the principal teacher at the Superior Conservatory of Music of Barcelona (ESMUC). He also holds the position of artistic director at the NUME Festival & Academy, where he teaches violin and chamber music.
Valeriy Sokolov
He has collaborated with esteemed orchestras such as the Philharmonia Orchestra, Berlin Konzerthausorchester, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Orchestre de Paris, Cleveland Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony, Seoul Philharmonic, Oslo Philharmonic, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra.
Sokolov frequently works with renowned conductors including Vladimir Ashkenazy, David Zinman, Susanna Malkki, Andris Nelsons, Charles Dutoit, Cristian Macelaru, Peter Oundjian, Rafael Payare, Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Juraj Valčuha, and Kirill Karabits.
He has appeared at many prestigious European festivals, including Verbier and Lockenhaus, and made his recital debut at the Lucerne Festival in 2017. Valeriy regularly performs in major concert halls worldwide, including the Sunday Morning series at Theatre du Chatelet, as well as prestigious venues like Wigmore Hall, Lincoln Center, Mariinsky Theatre, Prinzregenten Theatre in Munich, and Musikverein in Vienna.
In chamber music, Valeriy has collaborated extensively with Gary Hoffman, Gérard Caussé, Lisa Batiashvili, Francois Leleux, Nelson Goerner, and others.
The 2022-23 season sees Valeriy returning to the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra for several concerts, featuring Sibelius’ violin concerto and a CD recording of the concerto. Additionally, Valeriy serves as Artist in Residence with the Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, participating in a series of orchestral and chamber music projects with the orchestra, Stanislav Kochanovsky, and Roberto Abbado.
MASTER'S
ACTIVITIES
November 2023 to July 2024
Find out below about the program for the Violin Master’s in Music Performance and Orchestral Studies, the first annual course of Advanced Studies in Palermo that gives you the chance to make the big step from student to concert violinist.
The Master’s program includes 3 types of attendance, designed to suit the different needs of each musician:
A • PART-TIME
B • PERFORMER
C • CONCERT ARTIST
A • B • C
Violin lessons take place over 8 meetings
3 meetings with Marlène Prodigo
3 meetings with Vlad Stanculeasa
2 meetings with Valeriy Sokolov
Each meeting includes two lessons of about 60 minutes each.
INCLUDED IN THE FOLLOWING PATH:
-
- Concert artist path
- Performer path
- Part-time path
A • B • C
The Master’s program offers two specific addresses for in-depth study of solo or chamber music repertoire:
1. ORCHESTRAL ADDRESS: specific in the study of orchestral excerpts and in the preparation of orchestral auditions. Lessons will be scheduled with faculty to set concrete goals.
2. CHAMBER MUSIC ADDRESS: for those who wish to deepen their chamber music repertoire with their own ensemble. You can then participate in the Master’s program by bringing your own chamber group (duo, trio, quartet, quintet).
The fee for the chamber music address will remain the same, whatever the number of ensemble members.
● GOALS
CONCERT REPERTOIRE
Over the year, your purpose will be complete a recital program chosen on the basis of the specialization you want to undertake or recommended by the teacher.
COMPETITION REPERTOIRE
You will learn how to design and master the main pieces required in international competitions.
PASSAGES
ORCHESTRAL
Particular attention will be paid to the several orchestra steps, nowadays required with an higher level, in the auditions of all the orchestras in the world.
TECHNIQUE
You will face all the challenges related to violin technique, delving deep into the repertoire and aspects such as touch, sound, physicality, breath, and overall, gaining a thorough knowledge of your instrument.
INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS
You will deepen the history, the structure and the different interpretative possibilities of each piece, in order to master each aspect of the performance, starting from the score and arriving to the aware listening of your own sound.
B • C
Integration of movement, sensation, feeling and thought: awarness is the foundational element. Physical and emotional tensions, habits and unconscious motor patterns are major contributors to the musicians’ problems.
During the 8 lessons of the Feldenkrais Method®, you will learn to acquire and develop new and more functional habits, gain body awareness, rediscover a more efficient and effective posture, and find a freer and more adaptable breath. This will allow you to improve and make a better sound quality, managing performance anxieties and achieving greater artistic expression. The Feldenkrais Method® lessons will take place on the same days as the violin lessons.
Teacher:
MARISA GLORIOSO
She graduated from the International Feldenkrais Method® Training and is qualified to teach both group lessons of Awareness Through Movement® and the hands-on technique of Functional Integration® (individual sessions).
Her educational background, first in linguistics and then in music and the arts, led her to develop a passion for everything related to body expression and creativity. She became interested in Rudolf Steiner’s eurhythmics, an artistic movement practice closely connected to language and music, and she attended a three-year course on body expression and verbal and non-verbal communication. She studied opera singing at the Palermo Conservatory of Music, took courses in diction, theater improvisation and acting. In Turin, she perfects her stage art, vocal technique, and acting skills. She attends the Stefano Tempia Academy, specializing in Choral Singing, and works as a chorister for several years. Her interest in everything related to the harmony of body, mind, and spirit leads her to approach holistic disciplines: she graduates and obtains a Master’s degree as a Shiatsu Practitioner, attends a Diapason Therapy Course, and a course on Tibetan Bowls for therapeutic purposes.
INCLUDED IN THE FOLLOWING PATHS
- Performer path
- Concert artist path
B • C
The seminar “Home Recording. From basic recording to professional production seminar is an opportunity to learn how to record yourself and create high-quality audio productions.
During the seminar, the fundamentals of acquiring basic recording and post-production skills will be explored. All components for a functional home recording setup for the needs of the individual musician, such as microphones, audio interfaces and recording software, will be examined. Some setups of different price ranges will be suggested, and the importance of the acoustic environment will be discussed, providing tips and remedies on how to optimize and improve it. After explaining the topic of recording, the basics of post-production will be touched upon, from editing, to choosing effects, to exporting to various audio formats compatible with different distribution platforms such as SoundCloud, Spotify and YouTube. Finally, the differences between studio and home recording will be explored, learning how to evaluate when to opt for the first and when to opt
for the second option.
The seminar “Home Recording. From Basic Recording to Professional Production is suitable for anyone who wants to create quality audio content in the comfort of their home environment.
MODULES OF THE SEMINAR
- The importance of good audio recording
- The recording chain and the tools needed for a home studio
- The importance of the room: how to equip it. Examples of setups according to different price ranges.
- Fundamentals of post production, editing, and audio file preparation for streaming platforms
- When to prefer studio recording to home recording
Lecturers:
FEDERICO DI NOTO, SARA GALASSO E LUCA RIZZO
The seminar is held by the Federiscores team. Federiscores is a startup born from the idea that classical music can also be innovation, freshness and progress. Therefore, its mission is to pursue various projects that look at music from new perspectives, which can meet the needs of classical musicians and at the same time bring as many people as possible closer to the world of music.
INCLUDED IN THE FOLLOWING PATHS
- Performer path
- Concert artist path
B • C
A classical music artist who is entering the business world or who wants to further develop his or her career needs to attend to all the elements involved in identifying his or her visual identity as well as positioning and management on the Web and social media.
The workshop will introduce the analysis of the strengths that determine one’s stylistic, musical, artistic, communicative, promotional and commercial uniqueness. Through an introductory analysis, the 4 key elements for an organic and functional career management strategy for classical music artists will be examined:
- Visual Identity
- Website Development
- Social Media Strategy
- Marketing & Comunicazione
Lecturer:
TIZIANA TENTONI
Tiziana Tentoni is a lecturer, divulger, consultant, project manager and former violinist, specializing in musicians’ personal branding and classical music marketing and communication. She was general manager and concertmaster of the second violins of the Symphonica Toscanini under the musical direction of Lorin Maazel. She has played in the world’s leading halls and with the world’s leading conductors, she has represented internationally renowned artists and organized concerts in Europe, South America and China. In 2012 he founded Amusart, a project dedicated to supporting young talent, online training and positioning artists, festivals and institutions on the web and social media.
He teaches Career Skills at the European Chamber Music Academy – ECMA Pro for the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole, Career Management for Classical Music Artists at the Attraverso i Suoni project, and Visual Identity and Social Media in the Style & Management in Music Industry Master’s Program at the Accademia Costume e Moda in Milan.
INCLUDED IN THE FOLLOWING PATHS
- Performer path
- Concert artist path
C
The presentation of a concert performer and artist in the world of entertainment happens mainly through publicity in the digital world and with the use of different channels, from social, to the website, to the press. During this Master’s program you will be able to create and put your professional website online, with the support of the communication and marketing studio Iride Consulting.
INCLUDED IN THE FOLLOWING PATHS:
- Concert artist path
Some of our students’ sites AY 2022/23:
C
One day dedicated to a studio photo shoot to create a portfolio of professional photographs that you can use for your promotion and for various requirements: CVs, posters, programmes, social profiles and website.
INCLUDED IN THE FOLLOWING PATHS:
- concert artist path
C
MARTHA has a recording studio with the best audiovisual production equipment.
We offer our students an important opportunity to do a recording session to make a professional video suitable for all streaming platforms.
INCLUDED IN THE FOLLOWING PATHS
- concert artist path
A • B • C
At the end of the academic year, the conclusion of a journey will be celebrated with final concerts, also streamed live. During the event, attendance certificates will be issued.
INCLUDED IN THE FOLLOWING PATHS
- concert artist path
- Performer path
- Part-time path
ATTENDANCE OPTIONS AND FEES
●
EARLY BIRD PROMOTION UNTIL AUGUST 27, 2023
50% off registration fees
| PART-TIME | PERFORMER | CONCERT ARTIST | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LESSONS | 8 | 16 | 16 |
| AUDITOR OPEN COURSES 2024 | ● | ● | ● |
| PIANO ACCOMPANIST | ● | ● | ● |
| SPECIFIC ADDRESSES | ● | ● | ● |
| THE FELDENKRAIS METHOD® | ● | ● | |
| WORKSHOP AND SEMINARS | ● | ● | |
| WEBSITE CREATION | ● | ||
| PHOTO SHOOT | ● | ||
| PROFESSIONAL RECORDING | ● | ||
| APPLICATION FEES | €100 | EARLY BIRD €50 | €200 | EARLY BIRD €100 | €400 | EARLY BIRD €200 |
| ATTENDANCE FEES | €1.300 | €2.400 | €3.800 |
Prices include VAT
● AUDITORS
No skills are required to participate as auditors.
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HOW TO APPLY FOR
THE MASTER'S PROGRAM ● ●
● STEP 1
Free Audition
Participating in the audition is simple. Just fill out the following online form. You will receive the audition result via email. In the case of a positive outcome, we will send you the contract to proceed with enrollment.
Rules for the video of the audition:
● Free repertoire for solo violin or violin and piano
● Framing that includes the instrument
● High-resolution smartphone video allowed
● Chamber music address: video with ensemble also required
The deadline to participate in the audition is September 24, 2023
IMPORTANT
Auditions are processed immediately, following the order in which applications are received.
Admissions to the Master’s program can then be closed early, at the time the maximum number of enrollments is reached.
● STEP 2
In case of successful ADMISSION you will need to proceed with:
● Application
The application fee is required to reserve your place and must be paid within one week of the notice of successful admission.
● Attendance
The attendance fee must be paid by November 30, 2023
All payment details will be provided in the contract attached to the admission email.
PAYMENT IN INSTALLMENTS
Payment in installments is available and can be requested after successfully completing the audition step.
CONVENTIONS
MARTHA Academy has conventions with hostels, B&Bs, hotels and bars that are located close to the class venue.
