The Accademia Musicale Chigiana (English: Chigiana Musical Academy) is a music institute in Siena, Italy.[1] It was founded by Count Guido Chigi-Saracini in 1932 as an international centre for advanced musical studies. It organises Master Classes in the major musical instruments as well as singing, conducting and composition. During the summer months a series of concerts are held under the title of Estate Musicale Chigiana.
Amongst the teachers at the academy in the 1950s were Clotilde von Derp and Alexander Sakharoff who stopped their international touring to teach here at the invitation of the Count.[2]
In 1983 the Accademia Musicale Chigiana, Fulvia Casella Nicolodi and Guido Turchi created an International Composition Competition named after Alfredo Casella, for the one hundredth anniversary of his birth. The International Accademia Musicale Chigiana Prize has been assigned, and among the winners’ names are some of the most famous ones in international concert circles. These names join the history of the Accademia Chigiana, already studded with illustrious presences.
The Quintetto Chigiano took its name from this Academy: its leader, Riccardo Brengola, was Professor Emeritus at the Accademia for 64 years.
The Academy occupies the 14th-century Palazzo Chigi-Saracini and contains an important library of musical and literary works of over 70,000 volumes as well as The Chigi Saracini Art Collection and The Musical Instrument Museum.
Accademia Musicale Chigiana International Prize laureates include: