Masterclass Held at China Conservatory of Music by Delegation from Conservatorio statale di musica di Mantova "Lucio Campiani"

From May 26th to 30th, 2025, Salvatore Dario Spanò, Vice President and piano professor of the Mantova Conservatory of Italy, and Maurizio Comencini, vocal professor, were invited to visit the China Conservatory of Music for a five-day period of academic exchange and teaching activities.

On the morning of May 26th, relevant leaders from the School of Education of the China Conservatory of Music met with the visiting Vice President Spanò and Professor Comencini. Both parties exchanged views on cooperation in the field of music education, discussed experiences in talent cultivation, teaching systems, and curriculum design, and shared opinions on further deepening inter-institutional collaboration.

During the visit, the two experts conducted a series of masterclasses at the School of Education and the Affiliated Middle School of the China Conservatory of Music. Vice President Spanò provided guidance to piano major students, offering precise critiques, performance demonstrations, and analyses of the works' essence, thereby tutoring the students in their musical understanding and expressiveness. Professor Comencini instructed vocal students on works covering various languages and styles, including arias and art songs. He provided targeted teaching in areas such as breath control, emotional expression, and language treatment, and engaged with teachers and students through interactive demonstrations and on-the-spot commentary. The teaching process of both professors garnered attention and positive responses from the attending faculty and students.

During this period, Professor Comencini also observed a vocal music class taught by Professor Liu Juan and engaged in an exchange about vocal pedagogy. He remarked that while Chinese national vocal music and Italian bel canto differ in technique and concept, they share common ground in the pursuit of emotional expression and technical support. He expressed the wish to continue such exchanges in the future.

On the morning of May 29th, the School of Education of the China Conservatory of Music held an information session on study opportunities at the Mantova Conservatory. Vice President Spanò introduced the historical development, academic structure, and curriculum system of the Mantova Conservatory to the attending students. Professor Comencini elaborated on the Chinese-taught modules and intensive Italian language courses specifically arranged for Chinese students at the institution. In his remarks, he mentioned that several bachelor's graduates from the China Conservatory of Music are currently studying at his conservatory and have achieved excellent academic performance, which exemplifies the effectiveness of the collaboration between the two institutions. During the session, students actively asked questions and interacted with the professors regarding the application process, course articulation, and study life.

This visit encompassed meetings, multi-day masterclasses, and study abroad promotion activities, involving teaching guidance in piano and vocal majors, class observations, and discussions on institutional cooperation. Through this series of exchanges, the two institutions further clarified their cooperative intentions in areas such as talent cultivation and faculty-student exchanges. The activities also provided a platform for subsequent interaction between the two parties in teaching and artistic practice.