APPLICATION AND REGULATIONS

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GENERAL REGULATIONS

APPLICATION AND ATTENDANCE

For the students of the Accademia Chigiana, termed “active students” (effettivi) and auditors (uditori), the following rules and regulations apply:

ACTIVE STUDENTS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Candidates who meet the following requirements and have successfully passed the required admission exam are eligible.

The following candidates can apply for admission:
– Italian candidates holding a second-level academic diploma
– Foreign candidates holding equivalent certificates

The following courses may exempt from the requirement of these titles: Singing, Guitar and new music for guitar, Five centuries of guitar, Composition, Choir Direction, Orchestra Direction, Innovation in Chamber Music, Live Electronics, Oboe, Percussion, “Tabula Rasa. The art of improvisation,” and courses from the Chigiana-Mozarteum Baroque Program.

To enroll in these courses, a curriculum of completed studies must be submitted.

The admission exam must be taken through an online video audition on the website www.chigiana.org by April 30. Exceptions are the Composition course (deadline for score submission: May 15), Innovation in Chamber Music and Oboe courses (by May 31), and Chigiana-Mozarteum Baroque Program courses (by June 15, except for the Composition course for ancient instruments).

For the “Tabula Rasa, The art of improvisation” course, no admission exam is required.

The required documents for registration are:
– Diplomas or certificates of musical studies
– Personal document with the date of birth
– Detailed curriculum vitae
– Concert programs related to performances already carried out
(only required for students enrolled in ensemble music and Orchestra Direction courses)

For students already enrolled in previous years, there is no need to provide such documentation.

Attendance as regular students in the same course will not be allowed for more than four years unless there is a specific request from the teacher to the Artistic Director of the Academy.

Students cannot attend more than two courses simultaneously.

There is an age limit for regular students as indicated in each course’s paragraph. This age limit applies to the first year of attendance (it can only be exceeded if the three subsequent years are consecutive to the first). For ensembles that can demonstrate being established for at least three years, a limited exception may be considered, provided the overall average is below 35.

Therefore, candidates must attach a copy of a document indicating their date of birth to the registration form. In the absence of this, the registration will be considered void.

ATTENDANCE

Active students must ensure their presence during the entire course, adhering to the full schedule of lessons.
With the approval of the teacher and prior notification to the Student Office, absences from classes are allowed for a maximum of two days (for courses lasting less than 10 days, only one day of absence is allowed). Upon the teacher’s request, possible exceptions will only be granted to students in the String Quartet and Chamber Music courses.
Attendance will be monitored at the sole discretion of the teacher.
Candidates must personally have all the parts of the pieces they have indicated.

ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

The registration must be carried out exclusively online and will be accessible from this page starting from February 15, 2024.

For clarifications or information, please contact the Student Office (allievi@chigiana.it).

The registration application must be accompanied by the aforementioned documents, the form for requesting the Italian tax code (completion is required only for those who do not possess it), and the certification of payment for the registration-exam fee.

On the registration form, candidates must specify:
– The pieces they intend to perform for the video audition
– The pieces they plan to study during the course
– For the Singing course, their vocal range
– For ensemble music courses, their instrument

(In the case of established groups, the surname and instrument of each member)

The tuition fee must be paid only after receiving communication from the Academy regarding possible admission to the course.

Registrations via email will not be accepted.

DEADLINES

The application must be submitted by the following dates:

30 April for the following courses with a video audition: Singing, Guitar, Clarinet, Double Bass, Choral Conducting, Flute, Percussion, Piano, String Quartet, Viola, Viola and Chamber music, Violin and Cello
– 30 April for Live electronics
– 15 May for Composition and Orchestral Conducting
31 May for the following courses with video audition: Innovation in Chamber Music and Oboe
31 May Composition for Antique Instruments
15 June for the Chigiana-Mozarteum Baroque Program (except Composition for Antique Instruments)
31 July for “Tabula Rasa.” The art of improvisation

ADMISSION EXAMS

Admission exams for the courses (for instrumentalists, singers, and choir directors) must be taken by submitting a recorded video (video audition) along with the online registration by April 30 (only for Innovation in Chamber Music and Oboe courses by May 31 and for Baroque Program courses by June 15).

Candidates must adhere to the established exam program.

The candidate should provide a link to the video on YouTube, Vimeo, or other digital platforms, as well as private videos.

Candidates who do not pass the admission exams may attend the courses as auditors, subject to the relevant procedures at the Student Office.

Download the suggestions for an optimal video recording

TUITION AND FEES

Application-Examination Fee

It must be received by the Accademia Chigiana by the application deadline. A copy of the payment receipt must be attached to the application form, including the method of payment and details of the transaction. The fee may be paid by bank transfer or online with PayPal.  How to make a Payment.

Orchestral Conducting Course 
€ 28,00 for the evaluation of qualifications
€ 68,00 for the application-examination fee *

All other courses
€ 48,00

Chigiana-Mozarteum Baroque Program
€ 25,00

The application-examination fee is non-refundable.

* this fee should be paid only by candidates who have successfully passed the evaluation of qualifications, after the student secretariat has communicated the outcome of this first selection

For courses involving ensembles, the application-examination fee must be paid by each and every member of the ensemble. 

Attendance fee (tuition) – ACTIVE STUDENTS

We remind applicants that the attendance fee should only be paid after receiving an official notification of acceptance to the course.  

It must be paid before the start of lessons and cannot be pro-rated or made in installments. This fee is non-refundable in the case that the student interrupts attendance. 

In the case that a fee exemption is applied the paid fee will be reimbursed. 

TABLE OF TUITION FEES

Fee reductions for active students

The following fee reductions may be applied, but are not able to be combined:

– 30% for the attendance in a second course*, including the courses of the Chigiana-Mozarteum Baroque Program
– 45% for members of ensembles who can demonstrate previous concert activity of at least one year (by submitting programmes of past concerts)

*A “second course” is one taken together or in addition to the first course. The reduction will be applied to the discipline that has a later start date. This reduction does not apply to the Orchestra Conducting course. The reduction will be applied to the discipline that has a later start date.

AUDITORS

GENERAL INFORMATION

AUDITORS

It is possible to attend the courses as an auditor after having completed the proper paperwork.

No special qualifications are required to register; it will be sufficient to fill in the online form and pay the appropriate tuition attendance fee in euros.

ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

It is possible to register as an auditor at any time. The application must be made exclusively online and will be accessible from this page beginning February 15th, 2024. 

For clarifications or more information, please contact the Student Secretary’s Office (allievi@chigiana.it).

The form to request an Italian Fiscal Code should be attached to the online application form (to be completed by those not already in possession of the fiscal code).

Applications will not be accepted via e-mail.

TUITION FEES

Application-Examination fee – AUDITORS

There is no registration-exam fee for those who register as an auditor because they do not have to take an audition exam.

Attendance (tuition) fee – AUDITORS

The attendance fee permits the auditor to listen to the lessons of the chosen course, and can be pro-rated, but cannot be reimbursed if the student interrupts class attendance on their own initiative.

Daily admission tickets are also available.

The sale of entrance tickets is subject to the capacity of the classrooms. The administration reserves the right to suspend the sale of entrance tickets for auditors, without notice, if too many guests would interrupt the lessons or compromise safety.

TABLE OF TUITION FEES

ADMITTED STUDENTS

Active students must guarantee their presence during the course, respecting the complete timetable of the lessons.
With the approval of the teacher, and upon notifying the Student Secretariat, absences from lessons are allowed for a maximum of two days (for courses less than 10 days long, only one absence is allowed).
Attendance will be checked at the discretion of the teacher.
Upon request of the teacher, possible exceptions will be allowed only for students of the String Quartet and Chamber Music course.

CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE / DIPLOMA

All active students who regularly attend the lessons shall receive a certificate of attendance. Diplomas and honorable mentions are also given. 

TICKETS TO THE CONCERTS OF THE ACCADEMIA

All students of the Chigiana Summer Academy (active and auditors), who have the student ID card (foto tessera), will be admitted free of charge to the Final Class Concerts by booking a free ticket at the Student Secretary’s Office. They will also be able to take advantage of reduced prices when purchasing tickets for the other concerts of the Chigiana International Festival. For the concerts of the Festival, a limited number of free tickets will be made available to active students only, to be requested by reservation in the Secretary’s Office.

PRACTICE ROOM RESERVATIONS

The Academy will make practice rooms equipped with pianos available to students. These are located in the building adjacent to Palazzo Chigi Saracini (July and August) and at the “R. Franci” Conservatory (from 15 July to 10 August).

The Student Secretariat will provide students with all the information they need to proceed with the booking of the study rooms, which can be used during their period of enrolment in the masterclass.

TUITION

All fees must be paid in the exact amount requested in euros. Any expenses incurred for exchange transactions or bank commissions shall be paid by the student.
For ensemble music courses, the application-examination and attendance fees must be paid by each individual member of the ensemble.
Note: Credits in the form of a scholarship, or any other refund of the tuition fee paid will be made at the end of the course attended. 

TYPES OF FEES

APPLICATION-EXAMINATION FEE

ACTIVE STUDENTS

It must reach the Accademia Chigiana at the same time as the application form. A copy of the transaction receipt showing the payment details should be attached to the online application. 

PAYMENT

– bank transfer
– PayPal online

MAKE PAYMENT TO:
Fondazione Accademia Musicale Chigiana

IBAN – IT82C0103014200000001482216
BIC – PASCITMMSIE

Please indicate the student’s name and chosen course.

The payment can also be made online via Paypal by clicking the button below. Please indicate the student’s name and title of the course in the notes. The beneficiary e-mail address is contabilita@chigiana.it.

The application-examination fee is non-refundable.

ATTENDANCE FEE

ACTIVE STUDENTS

Please note that the tuition (attendance) fee should only be paid after the Academy has notified the student of their admission to the course.

It must be paid before the start date of the lessons. It cannot be divided, nor can it be reimbursed in the event that the student interrupts the attendance of lessons on their own initiative.

In the event that an exemption or scholarship is subsequently assigned, the tuition paid will be refunded.

Fee reductions for active students

The following fee reductions may be applied, but are not able to be combined:

– 30% for the attendance in a second course, including the Chigiana-Mozarteum Baroque Program*
– 45% for members of ensembles who can demonstrate previous concert activity of at least one year (by submitting programmes of past concerts)

*A “second course” is to be understood as one taken together with, or in addition to, the first course. The Orchestral Conducting course is not eligible for this reduction. The reduction will be applied to the discipline that has a later start date.

Note: Those who take advantage of the fee/tuition exemptions provided by the various agreements in place for 2024 will in no case be entitled to a reduction on the attendance fee for any second course.

AUDITORS

The attendance fee permits the auditor to listen to the lessons of the chosen course, and can be pro-rated, but cannot be reimbursed if the student interrupts class attendance on their own initiative.

Daily admission tickets are also available.

The sale of entrance tickets is subject to the capacity of the classrooms. The administration reserves the right to suspend the sale of entrance tickets for auditors, without notice, if too many guests would interrupt the lessons or compromise safety.

Partial Attendance fees (only for auditors)

For the Orchestral Conducting course:
– One week: € 145
– Daily admission: € 28

For all the other courses:
– One week: € 70 (valid for courses longer than 10 days)
– Daily admission: € 16

FEE WAIVERS

The Accademia Chigiana will waive the tuition fee for one student for each course. Those registered as active students can compete for the fee-waiver by sending a reasonable request, in the form of a letter to be attached to the application for registration. Applicants must declare on the application whether or not they have a source of income. These exemptions will be assigned according to a merit ranking and will consist in the reimbursement of the tuition fee paid.

Each teacher will be free to determine when to assign the fee-waiver: either at the beginning of the course, based on the outcome of the entrance exam, or at the end, after assessing the student’s merit during the course.

Holders of scholarships awarded by other entities are not eligible for this fee-waiver.

There are no fee-waivers available to attend the Chigiana-Mozarteum Baroque Program 2023.

FEE EXEMPTIONS

The following exemptions will be made:

Application-examination fee

– for students of the Conservatorio “Rinaldo Franci” who are specially selected as per the agreement with these institutions;
– for students of Italian Conservatories who are recommended by the Director of their institution, even if they do not possess the required titles (please indicate “Convenzione Conservatori Italiani” in the online application form);

– for ensembles that register through Le Dimore del Quartetto for courses in String Quartet, and Viola and chamber music;
– for students of the Civica Scuola di Musica Claudio Abbado, the Cesena Conservatory Bruno Maderna and the Terni Conservatory Giulio Briccialdi, as per agreement.

Attendance fee for ACTIVE STUDENTS

– for those awarded a fee waiver as indicated by their instructor;
– for students of Conservatorio “Rinaldo Franci”, of the “G. Verdi” Conservatory of Milan, and Siena Jazz who are accepted as active students as per agreements with those institutions.

Note: For students of the Civica Scuola di Musica Claudio Abbado, the Cesena Conservatory Bruno Maderna, the Prague Conservatory and the Terni Conservatory Giulio Briccialdi there is a fee reduction of 50% with respect to the ordinary tuition / attendance fee.

Attendance fee for AUDITORS

– exemptions will be made for a limited number of students from the Conservatorio “R. Franci”, the Conservatorio “G. Verdi” of Milan, the Conservatorio “C.Pollini” of Padova and Siena Jazz, as per the agreement with those institutions.

SCHOLARSHIPS and AWARDS

Scholarships and Awards, as indicated below, are given by organizations or individuals to students who distinguish themselves in the advanced specialization courses of the Accademia Chigiana:

Note: Credits in the form of a scholarship, or any other refund of the tuition fee paid will be made at the end of the course attended. 

Premio “Giovanna Maniezzo”

Again in 2024, thanks to the generous contribution of Prof. Avv. Marcello Clarich, a scholarship will be awarded in memory of Giovanna Maniezzo, a collaborator of the Accademia Chigiana for external relations, who passed away prematurely in 2018.

The Prize, worth € 1,500 gross, will be awarded to the student or ensemble of the summer courses of the Accademia Chigiana who has shown particular aptitude and ability in enhancing their image, in promoting their life and artistic activity, presenting themselves in public and communicating with others. The name of the student or ensemble to whom the scholarship will be awarded will be announced by the Academy at the end of all summer courses.

Scholarship “Rotary Club Siena”

Two scholarships of € 1,500 gross each are reserved in 2024 for students of Orchestral conducting and the Violin course (Ilya Gringolts).

The awarding of these grants will be based on a merit ranking which, in the opinion of the teacher, and the Artistic Director of the Chigiana Academy, will emerge from the entrance examination.

Scholarship “Pie Disposizioni”

Five scholarships are reserved in 2024 for students in the following courses: Singing (William Matteuzzi), Five centuries of Guitar (Eliot Fisk), Double Bass (Giuseppe Ettorre), Percussions (Antonio Caggiano) and Violin (Salvatore Accardo).

These scholarships will be awarded on the basis of a merit ranking which, in the opinion of the teacher and the Artistic Director of the Chigiana Academy, will emerge from the entrance-examination, as well as, based on the assessment of individual needs.

Scholarship “Emma Contestabile”

Scholarships from the estate of Emma Contestabile allocated to the Accademia Chigiana to be used for scholarships for the professional training of students.

The “Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena” Prize

In 2024, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena offers a prize of €1,500 which will be awarded to a student of Lilya Zilberstein’s Piano course.
The purpose of the Prize is to allow the winners to comfortably continue their studies and further refine their musical talents. The Prize, indivisible, will be awarded at the discretion of a Commission composed of a representative of the Bank, Maestro Nicola Sani, artistic director of the Accademia Chigiana, and the course instructor.

Other scholarships

With funds from the Accademia Chigiana, a scholarship to attend the Voice Course is granted to one of the winners of the “Francisco Viñas” International Singing Competition (upon recommendation by the competition’s jury).

The amount of this scholarship will consist of an award of € 35 gross per day, in addition to an exemption from the tuition fees.

TABLE OF TUITION FEES

APPLICATION-EXAMINATION FEE

Orchestral Conducting Course 
€ 28,00 for the evaluation of titles
€ 68,00 for the examination with orchestra

All other courses 
€ 48,00

Chigiana-Mozarteum Baroque Program 
€ 25,00

* this fee should be paid only by candidates who have successfully passed the evaluation of titles, after the student secretariat has communicated the outcome of this first selection

ATTENDANCE FEE

ADVANCED LEVEL COURSES

Masterclasses Active Students Auditors
Voice € 450 € 225
Guitar and new music for guitar € 250 € 125
Five centuries of guitar € 225 € 110
Clarinet € 300 € 150
Composition € 275 € 135
Double Bass € 300 € 150
Choral Conducting € 325 € 160
Orchestral Conducting* € 1050 € 525
Flute € 300 € 150
Oboe € 225 € 110
Percussion € 425 € 210
Pianoforte € 375 € 185
String Quartet and music for strings and piano € 300 € 150
Viola € 300 € 150
Viola and Chamber Music € 300 € 150
Violin (Ilya Gringolts)
Violin (Salvatore Accardo)
€ 300
€ 350
€ 150
€ 175
Cello (Antonio Meneses)
Cello (David Geringas)
€ 300
€ 250
€ 150
€ 125

* Students who are admitted as “Active Auditors” of the course must pay a fee of € 34 per day to the Student Secretariat.

Partial Attendance fees (only for auditors)

For the Orchestral Conducting course:
– One week: € 145
– Daily admission: € 28

For all the other courses longer than 10 days:
– One week: € 70
– Daily admission: € 16

NEW SOUNDS

Courses

Active Students Auditors
Innovation in Chamber Music € 150 € 75
Live electronics € 300 € 150
Tabula Rasa. The art of improvisation € 175 € 85

CHIGIANA-MOZARTEUM
BAROQUE PROGRAM

Masterclasses

Active Students

Auditors

Singing € 220 € 120
Harpsichord, Basso continuo and Fortepiano € 220 € 120
Contemporary Composition for Antique Instruments € 220 € 120
Recorder € 110 € 55
Baroque Oboe € 220 € 120
Viola da Gamba and Viol Consort € 220 € 120
Baroque Violin € 220 € 120
Baroque Cello € 220 € 120

USEFUL INFORMATION

ACCOMMODATIONS

The following lodgings offer students of the Accademia Chigiana a discount:

Alma Domus
Via Camporegio, 37

tel. 0577 44177
info@hotelalmadomus.it

Porta Pispini Residence 
Via Baldassarre Peruzzi, 33/B
tel. 0577 45100 / WhatsApp +39 392 2607096
info@portapispiniresidence.com

Il Refugio
Via del Refugio, 4

tel. 0577 236363
info@ilrefugio.com

CANTEEN / RESTAURANTS

Students, upon presenting the Chigiana Student ID card as proof of their participation in the programme, have access to the following food services at special prices:

University Dining Hall / Canteen (Mensa)
– Mensa Sant’Agata – Via S. Agata, 1 – Tel. 0577 1651840
open every day from 12-3pm and from 7-9:30pm

TAKE-AWAY SERVICE is active every day from 10am-6pm
https://www.dsu.toscana.it/servizi/ristorazione/

ChigianArtCafé
via di Città, 89 – Tel. 335 811 5714 

10% discount on all purchases

 Caffé L’Accademia
via di Città, 103 – Tel. 0577 41337 

10% discount on all purchases

 Ciaccia Cucina
via delle Terme, 18 – Cell. 320 9254202 (Also available on WhatsApp reservation)

Vegetarian menus, focaccias made with ancient grains, fruit salads, and freshly squeezed juices. 10% discount.

OTHER INFO

STUDENT OFFICE OPENING HOURS from 4 JULY to 2 SEPTEMBER
from Monday to Friday 8:30-17:00 and Saturday 8:30-11:30.

At the conclusion of the course, we will ask you to complete a questionnaire. The Academy thanks you in advance for your collaboration.

The personal data collected during registration will be treated as indicated in the Privacy Policy

PIANOS

A limited number of pianos are available for student use – with precedence given to active students of the Courses for Piano or Chamber Music with Piano – both on the Academy premises and outside the Academy. To rent pianos for personal use in your accommodations in Siena, please refer to:  

Checcacci Musical Instruments
via Cesare Battisti 10 – 53100 Siena
tel. 0577 44521 / info@checcacci.it

TERMS OF STAY FOR FOREIGNERS IN ITALY

Each student is required to take out a health insurance policy or provide a consular statement of his/her right to medical assistance deriving from international agreements.

Students from countries outside of the European Union may enter Italy upon presenting a passport and, if required, a visa granted by their country of origin. Once in Italy, they must request a visitor’s permit with the same reason given in their visa. It is not necessary to request this permit for stays for reasons of business, tourism, visits or studies shorter than three months.

European Union citizens do not need a permit for their stay in Italy.

COURSES IN ITALIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

For information please write directly to:

Università per Stranieri di Siena
Segreteria studenti
Piazza Carlo Rosselli 27/28 – 53100 Siena
Tel. 0577 240100 / 111/ Fax 0577 281030
E-mail: info@unistrasi.it
www.unistrasi.it

N.B. In case of divergences on the interpretation of the translation, the Italian text will prevail