New Stauffer Centre for Strings prepares to open for admissions

The Stauffer Centre for Strings will provide training and support to talented young string musicians from around the world, and is the first of its kind dedicated entirely to string instrument teaching. 

Over 40 leading musicians will work with the Centre, including violinists Lisa Batiashvili, Daniel Hope, Julian Rachlin; composer Caroline Shaw; cellists Sol Gabetta, Steven Isserlis, Mischa Maisky, and Alisa Weilerstein.

It will offer specialist courses for concertmasters held by leading violinists, string composition workshops, creative courses for exploration in music, and workshops on violin making, media and management.

It will house the world's first Universal Edition Digital Library, and Accademia Stauffer will be the first and only All-Steinway School in Italy.

All of the programmes offered are full scholarships, allowing musicians from diverse backgrounds to attend free of charge.

Admissions will begin from 28 June.

Director general Paolo Petrocelli said: 'Thanks to the solidity and forward-thinking vision of the Fondazione Stauffer, we have an extraordinary opportunity: to create a cultural project that's unique in the world, one whose aim is to bring the best international artists to Cremona, who are all in support of future generations of musicians.

'Taking inspiration from the extraordinary 30-year experience of the Accademia Stauffer and the excellence of its maestros, we've developed a new artistic vision based on the principles of innovation, internationalism, sustainability and absolute quality. Our motto for the 2021-2022 academic year is, “Elevate talent, celebrate excellence”. Let's elevate talent and celebrate excellence for the future of music. With the Centre, the Accademia and the Labs, Stauffer has solidified Cremona's place among the world's most important capitals of music.'

Watch a video below.