Paolo Petrocelli leaves Stauffer Academy for Dubai Opera House

Florence Lockheart
Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Currently director general of Cremona’s Stauffer Academy, Petrocelli will take up his new role in Dubai at the end of February

'This experience has left a deep mark, personally and professionally.’ Petrocelli reflects on three years at the helm of the Italian Academy (Image courtesy of Stauffer Academy)
'This experience has left a deep mark, personally and professionally.’ Petrocelli reflects on three years at the helm of the Italian Academy (Image courtesy of Stauffer Academy)

The Stauffer Foundation has announced that Academy director general Paolo Petrocelli will be moving to the United Arab Emirates at the end of this month to take up the role of head of the Dubai Opera House.

This appointment follows the departure of Dubai Opera chief executive Jasper Hope, who moved from the Royal Albert Hall to oversee the opening of Dubai Opera in February 2015, and stepped down from the role in October 2019.

Petrocelli said: ‘I am particularly grateful to the president and the board of directors of the Stauffer Foundation and to all faculty members of the Stauffer Academy for the trust and support they have never failed to give me over the last years. I am fully aware that I had an extraordinary opportunity: being able to contribute to the growth of one of the most prestigious and iconic Italian music institutions in the world… This experience has left a deep mark, personally and professionally.’

Founded in 1985, the Stauffer Academy aims to offer the best international training experience for string instrumentalists, with annual advanced and professional courses as well as masterclasses and residence programs.

Having led the Italian institution since 2020, Petrocelli has seen Academy staff rise to over 40 artists, as well as working on a broad range of projects including overseeing the opening of the new Stauffer headquarters and supporting the creation of the Stauffer Center for Strings, the first international music center entirely dedicated to stringed instruments.During his tenure Petrocelli also launched the Academy’s new Concertmaster Artist Diploma, new innovation department Stauffer Labs as well as creating the Stauffer Digital Season - a series of concerts, talks and classes streamed from the Stauffer Center - and the organisation’s first summer festival, the Stauffer Festival.

President of the Stauffer Foundation Alessandro Tantardini said: ‘The collaboration with Dr. Petrocelli has been extremely productive and meaningful for our institution. Having the opportunity to interact with a dynamic and interesting professional figure is always gratifying, especially while achieving ambitious goals along a path of growth and improvement’