Conductor Ivo de Oliveira Ingadja

Ivo de Oliveira Ingadja born in Cazenga, is a 31-year-old musician hailing from Angola. He is the son of JOSé Ingadja and Isabel Ilda Gabriel de Oliveira. Ivo's musical journey began at the age of 11 when he joined a mixed voices choir group, where he discovered his passion for singing. Despite facing numerous challenges that have posed threats to his musical career, Ivo has remained dedicated and has consistently pursued opportunities to further his craft. He has strived to acquire spiritual and scientific techniques that enable him to develop a modern and well-structured career in music. Ivo's valuable contribution lies in his expertise in contemporary vocal singing, particularly in regional languages within Angola and the subregions of Central and Southern Africa. Through his musical performances, he aims to represent and promote the name of Angola both domestically and internationally. Currently, Ivo serves as the assistant artistic director of the choir "CORO A GRACA," where he continues to share his talents and contribute to the artistic direction of the group. Throughout his musical journey, Ivo de Oliveira Ingadja has demonstrated resilience and a deep commitment to his craft. His dedication to promoting the music of Angola and the surrounding regions has made him an influential figure in the music scene.

Coro A Graçacomposed of talented singers and choir leaders from diverse Christian communities in Angola. Its headquarter is situated in Palanca, Rua A, house n° 35, Municipality of Kilamba Kiaxi, Luanda - Angola. They use their art to convey Christian messages in Angola and Africa, with the desire to contribute effectively with their thoughts,their technique,their experience and their knowledge to the establishment of the Glory of God in the society.

Conductor Daniela Dolce

Daniela Dolce, is a multi-genre singer of Contemporary Ethnic music. Daniela Dolce’s classical training during her diploma in Vocal Performance at the Conservatory L. Cherubini of Florence led to an early career as a soprano in numerous operatic and sacred music concerts in Italy as well as abroad. As a pupil of Maestro Fosco Corti, she was invited to sing as a soloist in the Corradini Choir of Arezzo, founded by Corti himself. Throughout her career, Dolce’s interest in vocal exploration has allowed her to experiment within various musical fields. Just some of these include: Contemporary Music, Musical Theatre, Sacred Music, World Jazz and Argentine Tango. Her introduction to contemporary music began with her vocal performance in the group "Tacite Voci Ensemble" directed by Maestro Bruno de Franceschi. During her long-running and varied career, she has participated in many theatrical productions, as both a singer as well as musical director. Since 1993, Dolce has led a series of workshops on the use of voice and vocal awareness, for musical and theatrical groups throughout Italy and in her own organization based in Pistoia. In 2009 she founded "Daniela Dolce Ensemble" with which she performs in concerts of Ethno-Jazz music in Italy and abroad. Dolce is also the founder and director of the Ethnic Women's Choir “Agorà” which was founded in 2017.

Coro Etnico Agorà, is an all-female ethnic choir founded in February 2017. The choir developed as a result of a series of vocal workshops based on ethnic and world music, set up and run by Daniela Dolce and integrates music from around the world. The repertoire comprises African and Arab music as well as that of Southern Italy including Rome, Puglia, Naples and Sardinia and explores the rich culture of Romani (Gypsy) music. Agorà’s message is that of integration and celebration of multiculturalism and respect for human rights throughout the world. The choir aims to combine and transmit to the audience its four main elements: music, voice, joy and energy.

Conductor Elisa Pasquini

Elisa Pasquini is graduated in piano at the Conservatory of Perugia, choir conducting at the Higher School for choir conductors of the Fondazione Guido d'Arezzo and she’s graduated in singing at the Conservatory of Fiesole. She studied with teachers such as: M. Albrizio, L. Tanganelli, F. Bidini, F. Ferrati, L. Marzola, G.Graden, N. Corti, M. Berrini, C. Pavese, S. Kuret, S. Vajente. As director, she then specialized at the European Academy for choral conductors and the Chigiana Music Academy respectively with R. Rasmussen and L. Donati. She is a chorister and collaborator of the Insieme Vocale Vox Cordis, UT - Insieme Vocale Consonante, Guido Chigi Saracini Cathedral Choir of Siena and also collaborate frequently with the instrumental ensemble of ancient music Anonima Frottolisti. She has recorded for Tactus and Amadeus. Is a teacher at the Accademia Corale Italiana. Elisa Pasquini is the artistic director of the Associazione Effetti Sonori of Foiano della Chiana in which she teaches piano and directs the homonymous children's choir and the youth choir with which she has received various prizes in national and International competitions. She won the audition as director of the CGT for the three years 2020/2023.

The Tuscan Youth Choir was conceived and promoted at the end of 2016 by ACT with the aim of increasing, the interest of young people in the practice of high-level choral music, promoting study projects targeted and collaborations with important musical institutions. The second edition saw him participate in the Feniarco project "Officina Corale del Futuro" (2017), realizing the first performance of the pieces Sul cielo by E. Muratore and O Primavera by L. Donati, participating in numerous festivals and at the International May Choir Competition Prof. G. Dimitrov, Bulgaria (winning 2nd and 3rd place). Directed over the years by Elia Orlando, Patrizio Paoli, Benedetta Nofri, now in its third edition, the CGT is currently entrusted to Maestro Elisa Pasquini, and in 2021 he participated in another national project promoted by Feniarco "La Musica di Dante", realizing the first performance of "Amor" by Lorenzo Donati. He then continued the path by developing concerts and projects dedicated to Tuscan authors such as Angiolieri, where he made the first performance of "S'i' fosse foco" by G. De Carlo e “Somni Portae” by A. Buonavitacola. He collaborates as a laboratory choir for the Fondazione Guido d'Arezzo Foundation and for the Italian Choral Academy.

Conductor Dimitri Betti

Dimitri Betti graduated summa cum laude from the Conservatories of La Spezia, Florence and Vienna, attended masterclasses with T. Koopman and C. Rousset, winning Scholarships at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and the Cini Foundation in Venice. He has performed with the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg, Le Parlement de Musique, Modo Antiquo, Auser Musici and the Weimarer Akademie Orchester. He has played in Italian festivals such as the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and the Ravenna Festival, as well as European festivals in France, Germany, Switzerland and Spain, where he was also Teacher of Baroque and Medieval Music. Since 2012 he acts as Continuo player and Assistant of the Ensemble San Felice conducted by F. Bardazzi, attending concerts in Italy and abroad, engaging in European academic projects and collaborating on research projects with international partners – specifically, leading European experts in the intersection of music and new technologies. Since 2021 he is an Accompanist at the Conservatories of Milan, Cesena and Florence, and at the Tebaldi International Voice Competition of San Marino. He has recorded CDs published by Brilliant Classics, Classic Voice Antiqua and has performed for the Italian radio and TV and for the Swiss, the German and the Australian radio.

Etruria Barocca, ensemble, founded in 2012, is a musical ensemble on period instruments dedicated to the research, transcription, and performance of unpublished and lesser-known compositions from the Tuscan and European musical landscape: for example, a transcription of Melani's Ercole in Tebe, which was then performed at the Teatro della Pergola in Florence, along with numerous other premieres of sacred and secular Florentine music. The ensemble has performed in the Florence Dance Festival, the Da Vinci Baroque Festival with countertenor Filippo Mineccia, the InCanto Armonico Festival in Sarzana, the concert season of the "R. Franci" ISSM in Siena, the Amici della Musica di Viareggio season and the festival In Caelestes Thesauros of Florence. The ensemble’s repertoire includes Corelli's 8 Concerti Grossi da Chiesa, Couperin and Delalande's Leçons de Tenebres, G. F. Handel's Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno and The Messiah. In 2020 the ensemble released their first album, L'Incoronazione di Poppea by Monteverdi, recorded in collaboration with Ensemble San Felice and La Pifarescha under the conduction of F. Bardazzi, followed in 2021 by Monteverdi's L'Orfeo (Bongiovanni Records).

Conductors Zita Tóthné Vermes and Vilmos Tóth

Zita Tóthné Vermes and Vilmos Tóth, are a couple who have been singing in choirs since they were children and have participated in numerous competitions, festivals and courses all over Europe. Zita has a Master’s Degree in teaching music and singing. But when their six children grew up enough, they started a unique, outstanding artistic formation, a vocal ensemble of a family - of international quality. After only three months of their work, they won a Golden Award at an international choir contest. During the following years they have earned huge appreciation in Czech Republic, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania and Sweden. It is their great achievement that they cultivate their children’s musical talent and constantly improve the ensemble’s artistic quality, both for their own and the audience’s enjoyment.

Family Singers Vocal Ensemble, was founded in 2013. The composition of members is unique in the international classical music world: all members are from one family: six siblings between 12 and 24 years of age and their parents.The children have been studying choir and solo singing, musical theory and instrumental music from an early age. Their purpose is to promote the miracle of singing and music (that they owe so much including the family itself). With each passing year they strive to sing more and more beautiful compositions with a higher quality of performance. Their mission is to contribute to the worldwide distribution of Zoltán Kodály’s spiritual heritage, his musical education method. They always perform their concerts a cappella, without any musical accompaniment. The repertoire of the Ensemble is constantly expanding: classical pieces from all ages, adaptations from theatrical musicals, pop, rock and film music, folk song arrangements, gospels. They often compose their own arrangements. They have participated in several festivals and contests in many countries, collecting a huge number of awards, including category-winnings, numerous Special Prizes, five Golden Awards and a Grand Prize. They reached the highest rank of the Hungarian choir evaluation system. In 2019 the family left Hungary and moved to Sweden. They gave concerts in Stockholm, Uppsala, Gothenburg and other towns.

Conductor Tsaichi Chan

Tsaichi Chan is a lecturer at the Music Department of National Kaohsiung Normal University, as well as the director and conductor of the Kaohsiung Youth Recorder Ensemble. She earned her Master's degree from Indiana University's Early Music Institute in 1996, specializing in Historical Performance. She has studied under recorder masters Eva Legêne, Matthias Weilenmann, and Michael Lynn. Born in Taiwan, Tsaichi had a childhood interest in outer space, which later developed into a passion for literature, history, and ultimately music. As a music professional, she has dedicated her life to educating and promoting classical music, considering it her true calling. In 1998, she founded the Kaohsiung Youth Recorder Ensemble (KYRE). Initially, she arranged orchestral music for the ensemble to help children learn in a natural way and build a strong foundation. As the ensemble members grew, Tsaichi expanded her musical arrangements to include pieces from the Baroque to contemporary eras, as well as movie soundtracks. She transformed simple compositions intended for a few instruments into large-scale recorder orchestral pieces involving instruments from the entire recorder family. The recorder, often considered a children's instrument in modern times, was able to shine once again on the grand stage.The KYRE members come from different schools and various age groups. Like a family, they perform, travel, and enjoy many unique life experiences together. Many members join at the age of twelve and stay into adulthood, forming lasting friendships. Over the past twenty years, members have come and gone, each with different backgrounds and personalities. However, they all share the same love for music, which, combined with long-term collaboration, gives them beautiful performing chemistry and spark.

Kaohsiung Youth Recorder Ensemble (KYRE), is a youth recorder ensemble founded by Tsaichi Chan in 1998. Comprised of students from different schools and age groups, KYRE has evolved over the years into a group of talented and passionate musicians. Tsaichi Chan, the director and conductor of KYRE, began by arranging orchestral music to help the students learn naturally and develop a strong musical foundation. Over time, the ensemble's repertoire expanded to include a wide range of music, from the Baroque era to contemporary compositions and movie soundtracks. KYRE provides its members with a unique experience. The students perform together, travel, and share numerous life experiences, fostering a sense of family among them. Many members join the ensemble at the age of twelve and continue their involvement into adulthood, forming lasting friendships.With their shared love for music and long-term collaboration, KYRE members develop a remarkable chemistry during their performances, igniting a special spark that sets them apart. KYRE offers a platform for the recorder, an often-underestimated instrument, to shine on the grand stage, elevating its status and recognition.

Conductor Letizia Dei

Letizia Dei is an Italian singer. She began studying music at a very young age at the Music School of Fiesole and continued her studies by attending the courses held by Marta Taddei at the Music Conservatory “Luigi Cherubini”graduating with honors in 2004. In the same period she graduated in Art History at the University of Florence. After her diploma, she attended opera repertoire courses held by Bruno Rigacci and by Alessandra Althoff Pugliese. She then attended the masterclasses of Mozarteum in Salzburg and the Academy of High Specialization Cà Zenobio in Treviso. She also attended the Maggio Formazione and the Cantiere Lirico Verista in Livorno. Cherubino, Zerlina and Dorabella of the Mozart Da Ponte Trilogy are some of the roles she has played. Also Leoncavallo’s Nedda da Pagliacci and Nella in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi. She took part in two World Premieres at the International Opera Theatre of Philadelphia. His discography includes projects on Gershwin, Britten, and hymns and spirituals of the African American tradition. She has been invited by Handing University of Searcy, Arkansas, to hold concerts in the USA and England. Letizia has always been interested in the crossover repertoire. For the past fifteen years, she has been the choirmaster of the Light Gospel Choir in Florence. With the Light Gospel Choir she was the protagonist of many very popular events in the city of Florence and Tuscany. Recently she is also director of Soulvation Gospel Choir

Light Gospel Choir, was founded in 2008 in Florence as a trained choir at the Athenaeum Musicale Fiorentino and now consists of 30 singers divided into three sections: sopranos, contraltos and tenors. Since its beginning, the Light Gospel Choir has performed in live concerts and has taken part in important community events in its hometown, such as Girotondo for Meyer Hospital at Palacongressi in 2010, Concert for Auser at the Teatro Puccini and Sensoria at Palazzo Ducale in Lucca in 2012. In 2013 the Light Gospel Choir celebrated the 80th anniversary of Misericordia del Galluzzo performing at the Certosa di Firenze and sings for “Premio Telethon” in 'Salone dei 500' for the Mayor of Florence. In February 2013 the Light Gospel Choir was chosen by the U.S. Consulate General Florence to perform during the celebration of the Black History Month for the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington In December of the same year the Light Gospel Choir performed for the association MEDU - Medici per i Diritti Umani at the Teatro Odeon in Florence. Since 2012 the Light Gospel Choir has been the main performer of the Christmas concert of A.T.T. Associazione Toscana Tumore (Tuscany Cancer Trust) held in St. James Church in Florence and in Ognissanti Basilica, featuring numerous foreign gospel artists. In 2018 the concert was held in partnership with Borgognissanti Association that promoted a workshop with the famous artists Isaac Cates and Rosemary Crosby before the performance.

Plamen Trio has been creating music since 2020 under the mentorship of Prof. Miha Haas at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. The members of the trio are clarinetist Špela Pokorn, cellist Barbara Nagode, and pianist Eva Založnik. They are connected by their desire for collaborative musical creation and playfulness, and despite their diverse personalities, they complement each other excellently. They regularly participate in various national and international competitions, where they achieve high recognition. In 2021, they participated in the 2nd International Competition of Young Musicians in Zagreb and won the 1st prize, which later led to an invitation to the winners' concert. In April 2023, they performed at the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall. In 2022, they won the gold prize at the 11th International Carinthian Piano Competition. In 2023, they received a gold award and the 3rd prize at the TEMSIG competition. Throughout the year, they regularly collaborate on events and concerts organized by the Municipality of Ljubljana as part of the scholarship recipients of the MOL Cultural and Art Scholarships. They applied for the GM Stage competition for the year 2023/24 and were selected to perform a series of three concerts across Slovenia. Starting this year, they are embarking on a tour to Florence, where they will represent Slovenia as a chamber ensemble at the International Choir and Orchestra Festival Florence. They also participated in a masterclass with cellist Maruša Bogataj.

Sherrita Duran, a versatile American artist, possesses a velvety voice defying genre boundaries. Raised in California, her passion for opera and musicals shone early, leading to prestigious performances across the USA and Canada. Relocating to New York, Sherrita graced Broadway stages and TV shows. Italy beckoned her, where her gospel performances gained fame. She impressed with her solo part in the 2019 Sanremo Festival, collaborating with Irama. Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari enlisted the "Sherrita Duran Gospel Choir" for his 2023 World Wild Tour. As a songwriter, Sherrita's two albums, "Keep Shining" and "Remnant Song," showcased her talent. Renowned critic Mario Luzzatto Fegiz praised her as an "acrobatic soprano," uniting bel canto with black music. A vocal coach and performer, Sherrita's powerful performances inspire worldwide, spreading love, joy, and hope through her soulful melodies.

Conductor Letizia Dei

Letizia Dei is an Italian singer. She began studying music at a very young age at the Music School of Fiesole and continued her studies by attending the courses held by Marta Taddei at the Music Conservatory “Luigi Cherubini”graduating with honors in 2004. In the same period she graduated in Art History at the University of Florence. After her diploma, she attended opera repertoire courses held by Bruno Rigacci and by Alessandra Althoff Pugliese. She then attended the masterclasses of Mozarteum in Salzburg and the Academy of High Specialization Cà Zenobio in Treviso. She also attended the Maggio Formazione and the Cantiere Lirico Verista in Livorno. Cherubino, Zerlina and Dorabella of the Mozart Da Ponte Trilogy are some of the roles she has played. Also Leoncavallo’s Nedda da Pagliacci and Nella in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi. She took part in two World Premieres at the International Opera Theatre of Philadelphia. His discography includes projects on Gershwin, Britten, and hymns and spirituals of the African American tradition. She has been invited by Handing University of Searcy, Arkansas, to hold concerts in the USA and England. Letizia has always been interested in the crossover repertoire. For the past fifteen years, she has been the choirmaster of the Light Gospel Choir in Florence. With the Light Gospel Choir she was the protagonist of many very popular events in the city of Florence and Tuscany. Recently she is also director of Soulvation Gospel Choir

Soulvation Gospel Choir, was formed in March 2023 within the "Blue Note" music school of Campi Bisenzio (FI). Accompanied on the piano by maestro Giovanni Benini and conducted by Letizia Dei, it is made up of about thirty members, divided into three sections: soprano, contralto and tenor. Despite its recent formation, the Soulvation Gospel Choir has already started several collaborations in the Florentine area, with a number of arranged performances that will take place by the end of the year.

Conductor Gianni Mini

Gianni Mini Graduated in both violin and vocal studies, Gianni Mini has performed at the Teatro dell'Opera in Rome, with the Florentine Chamber Orchestra and in many other orchestras. After a career as violinist, he dedicated himself to singing: since 2001 he has collaborated with the RAI Symphony Orchestra by singing in the choir Ruggero Maghini, with Athestis, with Cercare Ensemble and other choirs ancient music ensembles throughout Italy. He collaborated with the University of Florence Choir conducting the Ensemble, specialized in ancient and baroque music. Simultaneously with classical studies, he embarked on a study path for Jazz and Soul vocality that brought him closer to African-American sounds, Spirituals and Gospel. He worked with Gianna Nannini, Laura Pausini, Raffaella Carrà, Bob Singleton, Cheryl Porter, Chanda Rule, E. Armstrong, Sherrita Duran, Jennifer Vargas, Giò di Tuna, Francesca Taverni, Cristian Gineo, Stefania Scarinzi. His eclectic voice can manage various genres, from Baroque music, Mozart and Rossini’s operas to various Musical roles and pop/rock music. He has founded and conducts three choirs in Florence: The Pilgrims, the Academy Singers and the Ensemble Capriccio Armonico.

The Pilgrims, founded in 1997 by Gianni Mini, the Choir is composed of about 40 singers and musicians from different musical backgrounds and its repertoire is mainly spiritual and gospel with some pop and rock music. It has participated in many national and international festivals such as Torrita Blues, the Gospel night in Bologna, the Radio Libera Festival in Santa Croce sull'Arno, the Narni Jazz Festival, the Gospel Festival of Lucca, the Gospel Festival of Legnago, the National Film, Theater and Television Festival of Villa Basilica, the Chianti Festival, the Varese Gospel Festival, Estate Fiesolana. The choir has worked with major international music voices such as Cheryl Porter and Sherrita Duran, The Swingle Singers, Rick Estrin and Jennifer Vargas.The Choir has released two CDs: one entitled The Pilgrims with some of the successes of the history of gospel choir while the second one features Gianni Mini and Jennifer Vargas. The repertoire is currently composed of: a cappella spirituals, traditional and modern gospel and pop / rock music polyphonically rearranged. The music band is made up of four elements: electric piano, drums and percussion, electric guitar, bass/double bass. There are twelve soloists, all part of the choir.

Conductor Enzo Ventroni

Enzo Ventroni is musical journey began in 1969 when he embarked on choral studies and musical training at the seminary schools of the Tuscan Province of the Franciscan Friars. During this period, he developed a strong foundation in choral music and honed his musical skills. In 1985, Enzo Ventroni founded the Viri Galilaei choir, where he specialized in performing and studying Gregorian repertoire. His dedication to the beauty and intricacies of Gregorian chant became a defining aspect of his musical career. To further deepen his knowledge and understanding of Gregorian chant, Enzo Ventroni pursued additional studies from 1992 to 1996. He attended specialized courses organized by AISCGre (Italian Association for the Study of Gregorian Chant) in Cremona, Italy. These courses provided him with valuable insights and enhanced his expertise in this ancient form of liturgical music. In 2003, Enzo Ventroni, alongside Maestro Federico Bardazzi, took on the roles of promoter and artistic director for the newly established Florence Festival "In Canto Gregoriano - International Encounters of Florence." This festival celebrated and showcased the beauty of Gregorian chant, bringing together renowned performers and scholars in the field. The festival became an annual event and continued until its 2018 edition, leaving a lasting impact on the appreciation and promotion of Gregorian chant. In 2007, Enzo Ventroni, together with Maestro Federico Bardazzi, played a pivotal role in organizing the quadrennial edition of the International Congress of scholars of Gregorian chant. Held in Florence from May 28th to June 3rd, 2007, this congress provided a platform for scholars from around the world to exchange knowledge and insights on this ancient musical tradition. Enzo Ventroni's lifelong dedication to Gregorian chant and his contributions as a conductor, promoter, and artistic director have greatly enriched the understanding and appreciation of this sacred music form. His passion for Gregorian chant continues to inspire musicians and audiences alike, leaving a profound impact on the world of choral music.

Viri Galilaei, was founded in 1985 by Enzo Ventroni, marking the beginning of a remarkable musical journey. Initially, the choir focused on educational and study activities centered around Gregorian chant, establishing direct connections with monastic communities in the Florence area. This phase allowed the choir members to immerse themselves in the rich traditions and spirituality of Gregorian chant. In the early 1990s, the choir entered its second phase of educational activities. Members had the opportunity to attend courses organized by the International Association for the Study of Gregorian Chant (AISCGre) in Cremona. Renowned scholars, including Johannes B. Goeschl, Alberto Turco, Nino Albarosa, and others, imparted their expertise and deepened the choir's understanding of this ancient art form. Concert activities became an integral part of the choir's repertoire in the early 1990s. Collaborating with esteemed institutions such as the Opera del Duomo di Firenze, the Municipality of Florence, and later with the Opera di Santa Croce, the choir performed in prestigious venues, including the Cappellone degli Spagnoli, the Baptistery, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Cloister of Santo Spirito, the Church of Santi Apostoli, the Basilica of San Miniato, the Basilica of Santa Trinità, the Cenacolo of Santa Croce, and the Basilica of Santa Croce. In 2003, in collaboration with the Chapter of the Cathedral of Florence and the Accademia di San Felice, the Viri Galilaei Choir took on the role of promoter for the "In Canto Gregoriano - International Encounters of Florence" festival. This annual festival celebrated Gregorian chant and attracted performers and enthusiasts from around the world. The festival continued its successful run until 2018, leaving a lasting impact on the appreciation and dissemination of Gregorian chant. In 2007, the Viri Galilaei Choir, once again in partnership with the Accademia di San Felice, organized the prestigious International Congress of AISCGre in Florence. From May 28th to June 3rd, 2007, scholars and experts gathered to exchange knowledge and insights on Gregorian chant, further enriching the understanding of this timeless musical tradition. Over the years, the Viri Galilaei Choir has released several collections of Gregorian chant, showcasing their dedication to preserving and sharing this sacred repertoire. Among their latest CD releases are "Officium Sancti Miniatis" and "Jesu dulcis amor meus," which were warmly received by audiences in August 2022. The choir's recordings stand as a testament to their artistry and commitment to the beauty and spiritual depth of Gregorian chant.