Julian Dawson, was for ten years Staff Pianist of the British Broadcasting Corporation of Scotland and held appointments as Associate Conductor of the Scottish National Orchestra and the Scottish Opera. Associate Conductor, Repetiteur and Chorus-Master of Glyndebourne Festival, England, and Opera conductor at Brevard Music Center 1988-1996. Since 1975 Orchestra Opera Conductor Illinois State. Since 1996 faculty of Northwestern University.
Festival editions: June 2000, June 2001.

Johannes Dietrich, violinist and conductor. A native of Bozeman, Montana, Johannes Dietrich has in recent years developed an international reputation as a violinist and conductor. Active as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral conductor and clinician, he is well known for his dynamic performances and innovative programming. He has performed and conducted throughout the United States, as well as in Austria and Italy. He is currently Associate Professor of Violin and Orchestra at Lebanon Valley College in Annville Pennsylvania.
Dr. Dietrich has studied with Helmut Zehetmair at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, and with Constantine Kiradjieff and Kurt Sassmannshaus at the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) in Cincinnati, OH. He has also studied with noted teachers Roy Malan and Johan Jonsson, and has coached extensively with members of the Tokyo and LaSalle String Quartets. Dietrich has a BA in Music and German from Montana State University, as well as a Masters Degree and Doctorate of Musical Arts in Violin with a cognate in Conducting from CCM. Dr. Dietrich began studying the violin at the age of five, and shortly thereafter began studying the piano. As a violinist and competition winner, he has performed concertos with the Billings (MT) Symphony, the MSU Chamber Orchestra, the String Orchestra of the Rockies, and the St. Martin Chamber Orchestra of Cincinnati. He has toured Ohio with the Antioch Trio, performed extensively with the Alpine String Quartet, and is a founding member of the Dela’Art trio, piano trio in residence at Lebanon Valley College. The trio recently released its first CD, featuring works by Arensky, Bloch and Mozart. He is also currently performing with Duo Terlano, a violin/cello duo with his wife Marie-Aline Cadieux, cellist. Their first CD, featuring works by Haydn, Eggert, and Kodaly, will be released next summer. He has given solo violin recitals throughout the country and is also active as a ragtime pianist. As a conductor, Dr. Dietrich is the founder of the Bozeman (Montana) Chamber Orchestra and the Antioch (Ohio) Chamber Orchestra. He has conducted numerous festival and honours orchestras throughout the northeastern United States, as well as the Cincinnati Junior Strings, the Rocky Ridge Music Center Festival Orchestra, and the Montana State University Chamber Orchestra. Most recently, his college orchestra was invited to play in Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck, Austria, as well as in Chioggia, Italy.
With his studio teaching, Dr. Dietrich has also proven to be highly successful. His students are well known for playing with elegance and maturity. They have had great success in competitions, as well as orchestral and graduate school auditions. Many have gone on to successful careers in their own right as teachers and performers. When he is not either teaching or performing, Dr. Dietrich can often be found backpacking through the wilds of Montana, cross country skiing, or fly fishing on a secluded stream.
Festival edition: July 2004.
 

Benton Hess, BM, graduate studies, New England Conservatory; conducting studies with Felix Wolfes and Boris Goldovsky; baroque performance practice with Daniel Pinkham; piano with Lucille Monaghan and Herman Godes; vocal diction with John Moriarty. Conducting work with Arkansas Opera Theater, Augusta Opera, Lyric Opera Cleveland, Minnesota Opera, New York Lyric Opera, Opera Theatre of Rochester, Washington Summer Opera, numerous other companies. Private vocal coach in Boston and New York City with clients including Nicolai Gedda, Eleanor Steber, and Renee Fleming. Master classes in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. Adjudicator for Metropolitan Opera regional auditions. Faculty member, Boston Conservatory of Music (1970-73); Boston University (1973-74); Hartt School of Music (1969-74); Mannes College of Music (1987-94); Rutgers University (1991-94); Marion Stedman Covington Distinguished Professor, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (1994-2000); conductor and vocal coach, International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv (1994-2000); Visiting professor of vocal repertory, Eastman (1999-2000); faculty member, Eastman (2001-).
Festival editions: June 2000, June 2001, June 2002, June 2003.
 

Michele Mangani was born in Urbino, he obtained his diploma at the "G.Rossini" Conservatory in Pesaro for the CLARINET in 1984, BAND INSTRUMENTATION in 1987, COMPOSITION in 1990, ORCHESTRA CONDUCTING in 1992, and at the "G. B. Martini" Conservatory in Bologna for CHORAL MUSIC AND CHOIR CONDUCTING in 1988. In 1983 he won an award on the occasion of the 3rd National Competition of "DIAPASON D'ARGENTO" composition - Millenaria di Gonzaga (MN) Fair; in 1988 he was noted for the composition of the "Fantasia Marchigiana" piece at the National Competition for band and choral compositions inspired by the folklore of the Marches. He has collaborated with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Marches in capacity as 1st clarinet in 1985 and 1989 and was part of the "Assieme en plein air" group performing as basset-horn player. He has carried out, and continues to do so, concert activities in various formations of chamber music (duet, trio, quartet and quintet). Since 1985 he has directed the bands from the cities of Urbania, Cagli, Acqualagna and the Wind Instrument Orchestra of the Musical Chapel of the SS.Sacramento of Urbino which he still directs. He has directed various chamber groups of both wind and string instruments, including the Wind Instrument Ensemble of the Musical Chapel of the SS.Sacramento of Urbino and the Harmony Column Ensemble. In 1995/96 he followed an international specialization course in orchestra conducting with Maestro G. Dimitrov which was held in the Republic of San Marino. In 1996 he won the National Competition for Master Conducter of the National Band of the Italian Armed Forces. Last January he won an award at the 1st National Competition of original band compositions organized by the Musical Institute Foundation of the Aosta Valley. In April he received notification, with relative publication, for the National Competition of Choral Elaboration for an Aosta Valley folk song. As a composer, apart from music for chamber formations, he has written several original pieces and transcriptions for band members, some of which have already been published by "Eufonia" and "Scomegna". At present he covers the position of Conductor of the Urbinate Philharmonic Academy Orchestra, collaborates with the Symphony Orchestra of Pesaro and is teacher for the "Youth Wind Instrument Orchestra" of Ripatransone. He teaches concert music for wind instruments at the "G.Rossini" Conservatory in Pesaro.
Festival edition: 2001.

Cinzia Pennesi is renowned for her activities as orchestra and choir conductor, pianist and composer in Italy, Germany, Spain, Greece, Romania, Switzerland, Malta and South America. Her expertise as teacher and composer with Sir Neville Marriner in New York has won her a prestigious presence at Carnegie Hall (2001).
She graduated with the highest score (first class diploma) in piano, choral music and conduction at ‘F. Morlacchi’ conservatoire of Perugia. She then attended courses and master classes with G. Kuhn and B. Aprea for orchestral direction; G. Acciai, P. Righele for choir conduction; G. Santorsola for composition; J. Demus, A. Lonquich, L. Passacaglia and I. Gage for piano and S. Woodbury for vocal studies. She also specialised in composition and analysis with F. Dellipizzi.
In 1993 she founded ‘Orchestra G. Spontini’, which she conducts on a regular basis and with which she recorded numerous CDs and attended prestigious events such as ‘Festival Barocco di Viterbo’ and ‘Stagione della Fondazione Pergolesi’.
The orchestra was ambassador for Italy in the 1996 ‘Cumbre Mundial del Tango’ in Uruguay with bandoneon artist H. U. Passarella. She is Director of ‘Accademia della Libellula-FrauMusika’, focusing on projects of contemporary studies, with a specific angle on female composers. She has been invited to numerous festivals: ‘Concerti del Tempietto’ in Rome, ‘Amici della Musica’ events all over Italy (Bari, Cosenza, Ancona, etc.), ‘Ente Concerti’ in Pesaro, ‘Cefalonia Festival’ in Greece; and prestigious venues such as ‘Sala Maffeiana’ in Verona; ‘Pergolesi Theatre’ in Jesi, ‘Rossini Theatre’ in Pesaro, ‘Lauro-Rossi Theatre’ in Macerata, ‘Sala Baldini’ in Rome; abroad, ‘Argostoli Theatre’ in Cefalonia (Greece), ‘Marbella Cathedral’ in Spain, ‘Bellinzona Castel’ in Switzerland.
In 1990 Cinzia Pennesi became conductor in residence for ‘Corale Polifonica A. Antonelli’ in Matelica, with which she has been collaborating (concerts, recordings) ever since.
In July 2000 she was commissioned by ‘Macerata Opera’ for the re-orchestration of ‘Rappresentazione di Anima et di Corpo’ by Emilio de’ Cavalieri (philological edition completely under her supervision), on the anniversary of its first performance in four hundred years. She has recorded for RAIRADIO-DUE and RAI-INTERNATIONAL, plus KHO. Her collaborations as conductor include ‘Gl’Echi d’Archadia’ orchestra, ‘Florilegio Musicale Barocco’, ‘Orchestra da Camera delle Marche’, ‘Orchestra Sinfonica della Romagna’, ‘Orchestra Sinfonica del Centro Europeo della Musica’, ‘FraMusika’ ensemble, ‘Symphony Orchestra of Solingen’ (Germany). One of her ‘cinematic’ works (‘Il fantasma dell’Opera – The Phantom of the Opera’) has been recently staged at ‘Accademia d’Ungheria – Hungary Academy’ in Rome.
In July 2002 she directed and completely supervised the Italian premiere of ‘La Chatte Metamorphosee en Femme’ (Domenico Carboni Italian adaptation). As a pianist, Cinzia Pennesi is a dedicated performer – together with Laura Pennesi (viola) and Elisabetta Lombardi (mezzosoprano) – of chamber repertoire. They founded, in collaboration with Anna Pennesi, the research group ‘Accademia della Libellula’. In 1999 she was awarded in Campidoglio (Rome) the ‘Picus del Ver Sacrum’ prize. She also won the ‘Marchigiano dell’anno’ prize.
Since 1995 she has been the artistic director of ‘Piermarini Theatre’ in Matelica, and also since 1991, of ‘Festival Conosciamo l’Autore’. The year 2000 also marks the start of her collaboration as director of ‘Amici della Musica’ in Fabriano.
Festival edition: October 2004.
 

Louis Salemno - Louis Salemno is a regular guest conductor with opera companies throughout North America, including L'Opera de Montreal (Carmen, Rigoletto and Il Trovatore) Houston Grand Opera (Aida, Falstaff, and Dialogues of the Carmelites), Opera Pacific (Turandot, Madama Butterfly, and Un Ballo in Maschera), Florentine Opera of Milwaukee (La Traviata, Aida, and Andrea Chenier), Michigan Opera Theater (Madama Butterfly), Dallas Opera (Don Carlo), Vancouver Opera and Manitoba Opera (Turandot, Tosca, Macbeth, La Boheme), Tulsa Opera (La Cenerentola), Opera Carolina (Susannah, Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Manitoba Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia and Baltimore Opera for La Boheme, Seattle Opera (La Fille du Regiment), Portland Opera (Il Barbiere di Siviglia, La Fille du Regiment, Rigoletto, Don Pasquale, Aida, Carmina Burana / Pagliacci, Madama Butterfly) Baltimore Opera (La Fille du Regiment), New Orleans Opera (La Traviata, Faust, Tosca, Romeo et Juliette, La Fille du Regiment, L'Elisire d'Amore, La Boheme, and Madama Butterfly), New York City Opera (Lucia di Lammermoor and Tosca), Opera Festival of New Jersey (Tosca, L'Elisir d'Amore and La Cenerentola, Opera Omaha and Chautauqua Opera Rigoletto), Orlando Opera and Utah Opera (Lucia di Lammermoor), Madison Opera (La Traviata) and Sarasota Opera (Die Enthrung aus dem Serail). He has also conducted opera concerts for the Houston Symphony the past two seasons, and, in Penderecki. Notable future engagements include a return to Madison for "Madama Butterfly" to L'Opera de Montreal for "Tosca", and Opera Columbus for "La Boheme", plus subscription concerts with the Madison Symphony. A native of Philadelphia, Mr. Salemno began his career in opera as musical assistant to Max Rudolf at the Curtis Institute. He was a recipient of the Walter Damrosch Memorial Award for Conductors, which included studies with Nadia Boulanger in Fontainebleau, France. He made his public debut as a conductor at the age of 15 leading the Harrisburg Symphony, which were followed by conducting appearances with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Curtis Institute Orchestra. Mr. Salemno served on the conducting staff of Barcelona's Gran Teatro del Liceo, San Francisco Opera under Kurt Adler, and Lyric Opera of Chicago under Bruno Bartoletti. He also served as Principal Conductor of Texas Opera Theater and as Associate Conductor of the Dallas Opera, where he conducted "Andrea Chenier", "Otello", "La Traviata", and "La Fille du Regiment". He studied piano with Mieczyslaw Horszowski and appeared as piano soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Festival editions: July 2002, July 2003.
 

Aldo Tarchetti studied the piano under the tutelage of Lina Marzotto Volpi and graduated from Torino having studied with with Remo Remoli. He studied orchestral conducting under Pietro Bellugi, Franco Ferrara and Bruno Bartoletti. He was collaborating “Maestro” at the Scala in Milan, at the Fenice in Venice, at the Opera in Rome, and at the Liceu in Barcelona. He then went on to become assistant to the General Direction at the Teatro G. Verdi in Trieste and musical director on stage at the Regio in Turin and at the Sferisterio of Macerata. In 1982 he made his orchestral debut conducting Donizetti's "Don Pasquale", produced by Franca Valeri. Several important opera and symphonic events soon followed throughout Italy, Europe and South America. Of particular interest was his recital at the Colon in Buenos Aires with Katia Ricciarelli. He has conducted and also accompanied in concert several important artists of the classical music world: M. Caballè, J. Anderson, L. Serra, E. Marton, P. Cappuccilli, I. Wixell, D. Soviero, L. Pavarotti and J. Pons. He has recorded numerous compact discs with La Rugginenti in Milan. Some of his most recent recordings were two original manuscripts from the composer Gianni Possio and the opera Adina (Il Califfo di Baghdad) by Rossini. Formerly professor at the Conservatory in Milan, Turin, Pesaro and Cesena, he now teaches orchestral conducting at the Conservatory “Tito Schipa” in Lecce and directs the choir “Emile Chamoux” in Aosta.
Festival Edition: 2004.