ABF Masterclass in Advanced Chamber Music
at the ABF “Franco Corelli” Academy of Music in Camerino Monday, July 27 to Sunday, August 2, 2026
REGISTRATION OPEN FROM February 24 to April 10, 2026
1. PROGRAM
ABF Globalab is a program that integrates academic and professional orientation courses, united by a practical-experiential methodology and a strong vocational focus. Through workshops held by ABF trainers, the program aims to empower and guide young people by promoting:
- The emergence and enhancement of the knowledge, skills, and technical and transversal abilities already possessed by participants.
- The enhancement of transversal skills, such as leadership, problem solving, self-marketing, emotional and socio-relational skills.
- The development of new growth prospects and support for (re)placement in training and/or work.
- The overall empowerment of young people through self-narration, self-reflection, and the ability to project themselves into the future with awareness and confidence.
The program promotes a collaborative and cooperative approach, based on the principle of “learning by doing” and the active involvement of participants, both in community life and in the development of concrete projects. In this way, ABF Globalab represents a space where learning, creativity, and inclusion converge to foster the personal, professional, and community growth of young people through academic, vocational, and professional guidance activities that allow individual and collective talents to emerge and be valued. Within the framework of the ABF Globalab program, ABF Higher Education projects are offered to musicians, opera singers, and performers of all nationalities aged 16 to 35. Each Masterclass welcomes talents selected on the basis of socioeconomic criteria and solid preparation in the specific musical repertoire. The program takes place at the ABF “Franco Corelli” Music Academy in Camerino, the third reconstruction project by the Andrea Bocelli Foundation in the crater area after the 2016 earthquake, a symbol of resilience and commitment to training artists, while contributing to the cultural and social rebirth of the local community.
2. PROJECT
The ABF Masterclass in Chamber Music is a program of advanced artistic and professional training aimed at young national and international talents. The program promotes structured collaboration between pianists, wind and string musicians, under the guidance of Maestro Vincenzo Balzani, President of the Vincenzo Balzani Foundation. The initiative is characterized by an integrated teaching approach, combining in-depth study of the chamber music repertoire with focused work on the artistic and personal development of the participants. The training experience encourages comparison from the early stages of the career with the practice of ensemble music, promoting a broad musical vision and a solid capacity for dialogue between instruments. In this way, the project contributes to strengthening collaborative skills and generating concrete opportunities for professional development.
3. OBJIECTIVES
- To ensure a high level of technical and interpretative preparation through a personalized training program.
- To consolidate instrumental technique and deepen chamber music repertoire.
- To develop artistic skills related to ensemble music, with particular attention to mutual listening and sound balance.
- Offer concrete opportunities for public performance as a moment of assessment and professional growth.
- Encourage direct interaction with professionals in the field and the expansion of artistic networks.
4. TIMELINE AND FORMAT OF THE MASTERCLASS
The Masterclass will be held in a residential format at the ABF “Franco Corelli” Music Academy in Camerino, from Monday, July 27 to Sunday, August 2, 2026:
- Arrival: Monday, July 27
- Teaching activities (individual and group sessions): Tuesday, July 28 to Thursday, July 30
- Final concerts: Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1
- Departure: Sunday, August 2
At the end of the training course, there will be two public concerts open to citizens and institutional guests, which will represent the conclusion and synthesis of the educational work carried out during the week. The concerts will be held at prominent venues in the area, such as the Piersanti Museum in Matelica, as part of the Camerino Festival, and the Gran Sala Piero Cesanelli, as part of the Macerata Opera Festival, promoted by the Arena Sferisterio Association of Macerata, and will feature the actual participants of the Masterclass. Participation in the concerts is an integral part of the training course.
Participation is mandatory throughout the initiative.
Accommodation for the entire week will be fully covered by the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, which will provide meals and lodging for participants and cover travel expenses to and from the Masterclass venue within Italy.
5. TARGET AUDIENCE
The Masterclass will be held in English and is open to piano, oboe, clarinet, flute, bassoon, horn, violin, cello, and viola players. Twelve instrumentalists of any nationality, aged between 16 and 25, will be selected from both Italy and abroad.
You can participate as an individual, NOT as a group.
Places are limited in order to guarantee a high-level training experience with personalized attention.
During the selection process, up to 25% of participants will be identified from other international backgrounds. This percentage may be modified during the selection process at the sole discretion of the Artistic Direction based on the quality of the applications received.
The Andrea Bocelli Foundation reserves the right to reopen the submission deadline if the available resources are not fully allocated; to allocate additional funding to the call for applications; to close the call early; and to amend its timeline.
6. EVALUATION COMMITTEE
Applications will be reviewed and selected by the Artistic Director in collaboration with ABF’s expert staff.
The Committee will carry out its evaluation in April 2026, and selected candidates will be notified directly using the contact details provided in their application.
7. HOW TO APPLY AND DEADLINE FORR APPLICATIONS
To participate in the call for applications, please submit:
- Cover letter
- Artistic CV
- Current musical repertoire
- Photocopy of a valid ID document of the applicant(s) (and of a parent, in the case of minors)
- 2 Video che documentano l’esecuzione di due brani a scelta rispettando i seguenti requisiti:
- Each video must show the complete performance of one of the chosen pieces, with a maximum duration of 10 minutes.
- The videos must include a brief presentation of the candidate and the chosen piece (self-tape mode)
- Technical quality: Videos must be recorded in high quality, with good visibility and audio clarity.
- It is advisable to avoid videos recorded in noisy or poorly lit environments.
- Videos may be attached either as files or as private viewing links.
The application (containing the five components listed above) must be sent to the email address: abfmasterclass@andreabocellifoundation.org with the following subject line:
“Chamber Music Application – ABF Masterclass 2026 Edition”
PLEASE NOTE: applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, 10 April 2026. Any submissions received after this deadline will not be considered.
8. INFORMATION AND CLARIFICATIONS
Any requests for information and clarifications regarding this call for applications should be sent to the following email address: abfmasterclass@andreabocellifoundation.org
9. DATA PROCESSING
Pursuant to Article 13 of Legislative Decree No. 196/2003 and Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR), the personal data collected by the Andrea Bocelli Foundation will be processed for the purposes related to this procedure and used exclusively for such purposes, in compliance with applicable legislation. The provision of personal data is mandatory; failure to provide it will make it impossible to proceed with the evaluation and any subsequent actions. Any processing for additional or different purposes will be subject to the data subject’s specific consent.
The data will be stored and processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security and confidentiality, through suitable technical and organisational measures designed to minimise the risks of destruction or loss, including accidental loss, unauthorised access, or processing that is unlawful or inconsistent with the purposes for which the data were collected.
Dr. Laura Biancalani ABF CEO
Vincenzo Balzani graduated in piano from the Verdi Conservatory in Milan under the guidance of Alberto Mozzati with top marks and honours. At the age of 14, he won first prize at the Ricordi Competition in Milan. At 16, he won the Liszt Prize at the Maria Canals Competition in Barcelona. At 19, he won second prize at the Pozzoli Competition in Seregno and first prize at the Città di Treviso Competition, the F.P. Neglia Competition in Enna and the G.B. Viotti Competition in Vercelli. In 1975, the centenary year of Maurice Ravel’s birth, he represented Rai in the competition at the ORTF in Paris. During his career, he has toured all over the world and performed in prestigious theatres and famous Italian festivals as a soloist with orchestras and chamber ensembles (La Scala, San Carlo, Petruzzelli, Regio di Torino, Olimpico, Bergamo and Brescia Festival, Festival dei Due Mondi di Spoleto, Settembre Musica). He has made numerous radio and television recordings and recordings of music by Scarlatti, Mozart, Hummel, Beethoven, Chopin (complete studies Op.10 and Op.25), Rossini – Liszt, Schubert – Liszt, and Debussy.
From 1973 to 1995, he held the chair of principal piano at the Conservatory of Piacenza and, since 1996, at the G. Verdi Conservatory in Milan.
From 1973 to 1995, he held the chair of principal piano at the Conservatory of Piacenza and, since 1996, at the G. Verdi Conservatory in Milan. He is regularly invited to sit on the juries of international competitions such as the Las Rozas Piano Competition -Madrid, London International Piano Competition- London, Russian Piano Music Competition – Sanremo, G.B. Viotti- Vercelli, Rina Sala Gallo- Monza, Pozzoli- Seregno , A. Scriabin International Piano Competition- Grosseto, MozArte International Piano Competition- Germany, Tchaikovsky Junior – Kurashiki, Takamatsu International Piano Competition – Japan, Parnassos – Monterrey – Mexico, Hummel International Piano Competition – Slovakia, China Shenzhen International Piano Concerto Competition – China, Maria Canals Competition – Barcelona, International Piano Competition of Lyon – France) and to hold masterclasses and conferences around the world. For some time now, he has combined his concert and teaching activities with organisational work. He is currently artistic director of the international competitions ‘Città di Cantù’ and ‘Valsesia Musica’ and of competitions reserved for young talents, “Pianotalents” in Milan, ‘Monterosa – Kawai’ in Varallo, ‘Tadini International’ in Lovere and the Champion’s Keyboard Piano Competition Online.
From 2010 to 2021, he was artistic consultant for the prestigious “Pozzoli” competition in Seregno and, from 2012 to 2020, for the Pozzolino competition.
Since 2009, he has been the founder and Artistic Director of the Pianofriends Association in Milan.
Since January 2018, he has been regularly invited to give concerts, seminars and masterclasses in the most important venues in the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong as a spokesperson for Yangtze River Grand Piano.
In October 2023, he was invited to hold a seminar and masterclass at the F. Chopin University in Warsaw.
Since 2021, he has been a lecturer at the Accademia del Ridotto in Stradella.
