Palermo, March 11, 2025 – From musical composition to production, from artistic experience to artificial intelligence: these are just some of the themes the Alessandro Scarlatti Conservatory of Music in Palermo will bring to the stage at Didacta Italia, the most important trade fair in Italy dedicated to education and innovation in the school sector, taking place in Florence from March 12 to 14 at the Fortezza da Basso.

On Wednesday, March 12, the Sicilian Region and the Palermo Conservatory will take part in presenting the session titled “Studying in a Higher Artistic and Musical Education Institution (AFAM): The Model and Experience of the A. Scarlatti Conservatory of Palermo”, starting at 3:00 PM. This seminar aims to showcase the Conservatory’s educational offerings through a dynamic dialogue of voices and performing arts, with a particular focus on the role of digital technologies and cross-disciplinary professional skills—a distinctive element in shaping new approaches to the appreciation and dissemination of musical heritage, as envisioned in the European Music4D project.

“We live in an increasingly digitalized world” said Mauro Visconti, Director of the Alessandro Scarlatti Conservatory of Palermo. The educational activities of the Scarlatti Conservatory stand out for the expertise of our faculty and the emphasis we place on nurturing musical talent. Today more than ever, we are committed to offering a comprehensive and multidisciplinary education, focused on internationalization and the innovative use of technology—fully aligned with market demands and the objectives outlined in the PNRR MUSIC4D project. We are taking our first steps into a new multisensory dimension, and we are truly delighted to take part in the 11th edition of Didacta Italia—an invaluable opportunity for dialogue and in-depth exploration that we certainly couldn’t miss”.

The program will feature three thematic talks and four performances, in an event that aims to explore the new frontiers of digital learning, while promoting music culture and high-quality education in growing harmony with information and multimedia technologies. With the panel “Perspectives on the Future of Cultural Programming Through the Integration of Educational Offerings: Opportunities and Tools”, the Conservatory will delve into its current initiatives in close synergy with the Regional Department of Education and Vocational Training. This roundtable will center on strategies for cultural planning and management, from the regional to the European level—and, not least, on the use of artificial intelligence in education, particularly in developing the new skills and professional profiles increasingly demanded by the market.

An approach that has now become emblematic—gradually revolutionizing the world of music—is at the core of “Music, Entrepreneurship, Creativity, and Digital Revolution: The Future of Performing Arts in the AFAM System – MUSIC4D”, the European initiative exploring the role of artificial intelligence in musical creation and production, through a meaningful fusion of art and technological sciences. This is a cross-border project that not only involves the prestigious Conservatory of Palermo, but also the conservatories of Sicily (Ribera, Catania, Caltanissetta, Messina, Trapani), Sardinia (Cagliari and Sassari), and the University of Palermo. Dr. Michele Mazzola, Director of the General Directorate for Internationalization and Communication at the Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR), Dr. Francesco Pinelli from the Regional Department of Education and Vocational Training, Dr. Fiorella Palumbo, Director of the Provincial School Office of Palermo, Maestro Giuseppe Vasapolli, professor and contributor to the MUSIC4D project, and Dr. Roberto Cuccia from the Cultural Programming Coordination team of the Palermo Conservatory, will take part in the discussion.

Looking to the future while investing in the present, the Conservatory is exploring a new multisensory dimension through robotics, immersive reality, virtual reality, and the metaverse. Moderated by Dr. Roberto Cuccia, several sessions will see faculty members, experts, and students of the Institute engage in discussions on technological research applied to music, through a series of technical panels, educational workshops, and an interactive lab.The opening of the session titled “The AFAM Educational System in the Sicilian Region and Its Integration with the National Framework” will be entrusted to Hon. Mimmo Turano, Regional Councillor for Education and Vocational Training, Among those taking part in the session will be: Dr. Vincenzo Cusimano, Director General of the Department of Education for the Sicilian Region; Dr. Giuseppe Pierro, Director General for Communication and Institutional Relations at the Ministry of Education (MIM); Maestro Giuseppe La Rosa, Deputy Director of the Conservatory; Professor Luisa Amenta, Delegate of the Rector of the University of Palermo; and Professor Maria Rosa De Luca, Delegate of the Rector of the University of Catania. The first section will conclude with performances introduced by Maestro Andrea Muratore, featuring Time & Money by Pierre Jodlowski, percussion by Simone Domini, and live electronics by Vincenzo Pitingaro.

“The Pathway of Music Studies at the Conservatory” is the title of the second session, attended by Deputy Director Maestro Giuseppe La Rosa, Professor Rosa Alba Gambino (Delegate of the Conservatory Director), and faculty members Professor Fulvia Ricevuto, Master’s Program Coordinator, and Professor Carlo Fiore, Doctoral Program Coordinator. The session will delve into key topics such as the various levels of music education—preparatory, specialized, and postgraduate—and their socio-cultural impact, particularly in relation to the local territory. As in the previous sessions, a live performance will be featured—this time with works by Alvin Lucier, interpreted by Giulia Lo Giudice on glockenspiel (orchestral percussion).

The notes of Glamour by percussionist Casey Cangelosi, the multiset performance by Davide Amedeo Traina, March Cadenza by Gert Mortensen, and a snare drum solo by Vittoria Di Grazia will take center stage in another special live music performance—an encounter of virtuosity and hypnotic soundscapes. As the atmosphere becomes more intimate, the day of March 12 will come to a close in the spirit of simplicity, with a hands-on workshop inspired by Living Room Music by John Cage, performed by the percussionists of the Alessandro Scarlatti Conservatory of Palermo.The year 2025 promises to be rich with events for the historic Conservatory, highlighting its commitment to a renewed and immersive educational offering. Among these milestones, the 11th edition of Didacta marks an important step forward in the Conservatory’s journey of cultural and artistic growth, while also serving as a preview for the eagerly awaited OPEN DAYS on April 6 and 16, dedicated to young talents and all music enthusiasts.