MaestroSimoncini

Born in Genoa (Italy), Marco Simoncini began his musical journey after completing technical studies, focusing on organ, choral singing, and composition. He holds diplomas in Choral Music and Conducting, Music Education, and Electronic Music.

He has always been passionate about the sung and spoken voice in both music and theater, studying acting and stage direction to support this interest. As a chorister and assistant conductor, he was a founding member of the Luigi Dallapiccola Chamber Choir, performing widely in Italy—including the Italian premiere of Petrassi’s Nonsense—and recording for RAI.

He sang with the “Januensis” Choir of Genoa, winning first prize at international choral competitions in Montreux and Vittorio Veneto. From 1979 to 1988, he was part of the Alessandria Opera Chorus, also serving as assistant conductor and répétiteur in numerous opera productions.

He took part as a madrigalist in the Italian premieres of Lenz by Wolfgang Rihm (1988) and Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornets Christoph Rilke by Siegfried Matthus (1989). From 1986 to 1989, he directed the Berberian Ensemble, specializing in 20th-century and contemporary repertoire, receiving critical acclaim and winning the first prize at the Stresa International Youth Music Competition.

In 1989, he performed at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna in Verdi’s Giovanna d’Arco, staged by Werner Herzog, also released on VHS.

He conducted the “Angelo Gavina” Polyphonic Opera Choir of Voghera (1989–1993, and again since 2023), the “Italo Timallo” A.N.A. Choir (2001–2009), and the Luigi Porro Polyphonic Choir of Genoa (2014–2022). He also directed the “Città di Savona” choir and was a member of the vocal quintet “KREAM,” performing in Italy and Sweden.

Alongside vocal and conducting work, Simoncini has developed solid expertise in music technology—composition, notation, and electronic music—studying with Mauro Graziani. He collaborated with artist-composer Mirco Marchelli and trumpeter Mario Giuseppe Mariotti on electronic music performances, including the world premiere of Mirrors by Walter Prati.

He has taught Theory, Ear Training, and Choral Practice at several Italian conservatories, including Rome (Santa Cecilia), Matera, Bari, Potenza, Monopoli, and Bolzano. Since 2019, he holds the Chair of Choral Practice (COMI/01) at the “Niccolò Paganini” Conservatory in Genoa, where he served as Vice-Director from 2020 to 2024.