About Todi Musica & OperAffinity
OperAffinity was established with the mission of bringing opera & classical music to a wider audience. As a registered Italian charitable organisation, OperAffinity works with children, using music as a therapy to inspire and educate.
Todi is an international city with a strong expat and local community, who have a love for the arts & have a strong cultural affinity. We would like to establish a music festival which aims to strengthen the accessibility & appreciation of classical and international music through top quality performances; as well as community engagement & participation.
Project Description
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In 2023, we will offer three projects across the summer to test the validity and success of each project and associated goals.
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Project : The formation of a youth music summer programme which involves local music schools, local musicians as well as renowned Italian and international professional artists sourced from our own network of musicians and educators
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Project 2: International Multi-Cultural Concert by Queensland's Australian of the year William Barton. In collaboration with the Australian Embassy in Italy as part of our joint-efforts to pursue stronger bilateral relations and engagement enduring people-to-people ties between the two countries
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Project 3: Development of an Opera Studio involving masterclasses with international artists, movement and diction coaching, character development, audition preparation and on stage performance opportunities for the young artists. Culminating in a Gala concert in the Teatro Comunale that will be recorded for professional use.
OUR OVERALL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
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We aspire to enhance the strong international reputation Todi already has and further develop this through local community engagement.
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Our objective is to further enrich the cultural events already developed for the city by focusing on voice, orchestral music and opera.
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Developing music programmes for children and young adults which focus on diversity and inclusion through community engagement.
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Establishment of an important Umbrian festival for opera, music performance and education; as well as community.
Project Breakdown
What will be involved and the key goals of each project:
Youth Music Project
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Formation of a youth music summer programme
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Involves the local music schools, local musicians as well as renowned Italian and international professional artists.
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This include open sessions where parents can attend and understand the teaching process; and bring different communities together.
Key Goals
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Establish stronger community relationships and support by involving community in projects
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Offer children and young adult musicians of Todi the chance to learn from the best of the best from Italy and around the world
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Offer selected children and young adult musicians of Todi the chance to attend during reherasals for the international concert in Piazza del Popolo (Project 2)
Key People
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Professional musicians to be sourced from our own network as well as through our connection with the Fondazione Musica per Roma.
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Cathy Milliken, musician and former director of the Berlin Philharmonic educational programme.
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Karen Velazquez & Angleo Ingelse from the globally renowned music pedagogical organisation El Sistema, who runs several children’s orchestras in the Lazio region.
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Massimo Nunzi, Italian composer , trumpeter and musicologist. Artistic Director of the Jazz campus kids orchestra for the Rome's Auditorium Parco della Musica
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Lorenzo Porzio, Conductor, Director of Narnia Festival & Musica su Roma
International Multi-Cultural Concert
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International Multi-Cultural Concert by Queensland's Australian of the year 2023 William Barton.
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With support from the Australian Embassy in Italy as part of our joint-efforts to pursue stronger bilateral relations.
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Concerts with quartet as well as solo concerts by William Barton.
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Confirmed concert to be performed in the main piazza in Todi, Umbria
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Further concert opportunities being pursued in Rome, Spoletto, Emilia-Romagna
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Expanding the horizons of the didgeridoo and the Australian culture and landscape that it represents.
Key Goals
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Offer a unique and exciting musical experience not only for the local and expat community of Todi; but also international and national visitors to Todi.
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To involve selected children and young adult musicians of Todi in performances.
Key People
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William Barton
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Music School Representative/ Students
Opera/ Vocal Studio: The Art of Auditioning
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Opera & Vocal Studio involving masterclasses with international professionals, movement and diction coaching, character development, audition preparation and on stage performance opportunities for the young artists.
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Daily Italian lessons
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Performance opportunities throughout the masterclass workshops
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Performance of a gala opera performance in the Todi "Teatro Comunale"
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Selected classes and performances will be open to the public.
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Performances will be professional recorded for promotional and career use.
Key Goals
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The inauguration of a highly professional masterclass series for voice and opera. These masterclasses will offer musicians from around the world, highly professional tutelage and performance opportunities.
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Opening up the masterclasses to the public and children and young adult musicians from the Youth Music Programme.
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To offer the local community and visitors to Todi the chance to attend open rehearsals and gain an insight into the rehearsal process. These open masterclasses will be free of charge.
Key People
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Marie McLaughlin -International British Soprano, Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House, Opéra National de Paris and the Salzburg and Glyndebourne Festivals
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Eleonora Pacetti - Direttrice Young Artist Program presso Teatro dell'Opera di Roma
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Felice Venanzoni - Conductor/ Music Director - Oper Frankfurt
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Jonathan Santagada - International Italian conductor, Royal Opera House,
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Laetitia Ruccolo - Music Director, Bare Opera, NY Opera company, International vocal coach
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Yuri Napoli - Actor and Opera Director, Maestro - Performing Artists of Zeffirelli Foundation,
Project Timeline
Our Future Plans
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Evolvement of an important Umbrian festival for opera, music performance, education and community.
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Development of an international opera studio and orchestral studio involving masterclasses and public concerts.
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Continuation and growth of the summer youth music programme with participation of the students. Giving young musicians the opportunity to work with world class professionals and performance opportunities
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Establishment of an international music festival which will involve professional operatic productions whilst also integrating the community in aspects of the programme e.g workshops and concerts.
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Festival atmosphere involving local vendors, restaurants, wine bars, food and wine producers, shops.
OperAffinity & Todi Musica has been supported by and affliated with the following organisations
