Chantal Balestri is a versatile classical musician active in the European & American music scenes. She has concertized as a soloist, chamber musician and in ensemble of contemporary music at important venues, including the Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall and at Lincoln Center in New York. She studied in Italy, Germany and USA and currently is a staff pianist at New York University and a faculty member of musical academies in New York. Founder of the Festival “Amicizia in Musica” in 2015, since then she works as a promoter and organizer of international music festivals.
Trombonist and orchestra conductor, Andrea did his studies in Italy and Europe, including the ‘Florence Sinfhonietta’ with Piero Bellugi in Florence, the Frederick Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw with Szymon Kawalla e in Woergl (Austria) with Gustav Kuhn. Since then, he has conducted orchestras such as the Statal Concert Orchestra of Minsk (Bielorussia), the Swietokrzyska Philharmonic in Kielce e Statal Philharmonic Orchestra “Koszalinska” in Koszalin (Polonia). President of the Verdi Association in Fivizzano, since 2009 he is also the musical director and conductor of the “Puccini ‘Opera Ensemble”, then the “Tuscany Opera Ensemble”.
Based in New York City, Hanyi Meng stepped onto the scene of development for nonprofit organizations as a classically trained pianist in 2016. With a commitment to forging career paths for exceptional young musicians through cultural exchange, she serves as the Development Director at the French-American Piano Society and Development Manager at Young Concert Artists. Joining the distinguished team at LIMF in the latter part of 2023 as a Development Consultant, she spearheads fundraising initiatives within the United States while coordinating special events with the team based in Italy.
Bianca is from Tuscany. She holds a bachelor degree in International Relations and Diplomatic Affairs at Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna. Furthermore, she has had the opportunity to study in Nancy (France) and Bologna and got a Master in International Management where she developed team working and public speaking skills. Bianca is part of the Italian Youth Association of UNESCO as a fundraiser. Her role is to promote initiatives and events organized at a national level through the active participation of young people.
Born in Florence, studied humanistic studies, then she specialized in communication and marketing. In 2008, she arrives in Lunigiana and she fell in love right away with the little town of Quarazzana (Fivizzano). Almost uninhabited, she decided to revive it by creating a new Bed&Breakfast connected to the arts. An old house from XV was totally rebuilt and the “Luna di Quarazzana” was founded. Enthusiast, passionate about arts in every aspect, food lover, Ilaria hosts travelers and artists from all around the world.
Born in Rome, Flavia is a global citizen who lived around the world during the last 20 years and helped her two children grow across continents. She worked as a consultant for ERIN SA. and SITEL, along with many other national and international organizations, including dealing with the complexity of the corridors of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe. In addition to assisting MEPs, she carried out research work for the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Anita Lee is a violinist and international educator who taught both music and language acquisition across countries including Canada, the USA, Sweden, Japan, Taiwan, and China. Anita started learning violin at the age of 5 and continued studying with various renowned musicians. Anita was a member of IVAN-Formosa Quartet and received First Prize of the Young Musicians Chamber Music 58th Annual Competition in Canada. Anita has been also an active member in orchestras and is currently a member of Tianjin Juilliard Orchestra.
Jennifer Madero was born in Ecuador, graduated from University of San Francisco de Quito. She holds a bachelor degree in International Relations and a minor in Political Science. Additionally, she had the opportunity to study for a year in France where she developed her skills at teamwork and integration. Furthermore, she was involved in international volunteer programs where she was in charge of Event Organizer, Social Media and Project Manager, Cultural Mediator, Copywriter & Archival Programmer, where she had the opportunity to experience diversity in other cultures and languages.
Born in Pisa, Filippo is finishing his studies in business management and economics at the University of Pisa, having had the opportunity to spend a semester studying at the Univerisity in Lille (France), where he tried new studying methods and met people from all around the world. Very passionate about sports and arts, he played football at a professional level and coached a team of children, while during summers he volunteered for children summer camps.
SAVE THE DATES: JULY 17-27, 2025!
Soon the applications will open and we will share with you the new programs, professors and collaborations!
In the meantime, if you need any clarification, please contact us at info@lunigianamusicfestival.com
Thank you and see you in Lunigiana!