The commitment to the arts and music leads the Italian cultural manager from Cremona to the Dubai Opera House
The Board of Directors of the Stauffer Foundation welcomed with pride the news of the appointment of Paolo Petrocelli, current Director General of the Stauffer Academy of Cremona, as Head of the Dubai Opera House in the United Arab Emirates.
At the director of the leading Italian institution for higher music education since 2020, Petrocelli has contributed decisively to the redefinition of the cultural plan of the Stauffer Foundation, overseeing the opening of the new Stauffer headquarters and working on the creation of the development project of the Stauffer Center for Strings, the first international music center entirely dedicated to stringed instruments.
Under his leadership, the Stauffer Academy expanded its faculty to over 40 leading international artists, including Lisa Batiashvili, Sol Gabetta, Steven Isserlis, Mischa Maisky and Viktoria Mullova, as well as partnered with some of the most respected music institutions around the world, including Juilliard School, Yale School of Music, Royal College of Music.
During his time as Director General, Petrocelli has fulfilled his mandate to conceive and establish new and innovative lines of academic activity, such as the Concertmaster Artist Diploma, the first advanced training program in the world dedicated entirely to concertmasters and the Stauffer Labs, new departments for innovation and creativity. He created the Stauffer Digital Season, a series of concerts, talks and open classes streamed from the Stradivari Room of the Stauffer Center and launched the Stauffer Festival, the first summer music festival of the Stauffer Academy.
In his two years of positive leadership at the Stauffer, Petrocelli has fully met the expectations of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
“The collaboration with Dr. Petrocelli has been extremely productive and meaningful for our institution. Having the opportunity to interact with a dynamic and interesting professional figure is always gratifying, especially while achieving ambitious goals along a path of growth and improvement. When the only guiding principle is the search for excellence and meritocracy, the results can be seen immediately after. The collaboration with Petrocelli is a delightful example of it. Good luck to Paolo, a man of exceptional qualities, appreciated and respected all over the world”.
Alessandro Tantardini, President Stauffer Foundation
Paolo Petrocelli will begin his new role as Head of the Dubai Opera House in the United Arab Emirates from the end of February.
“I am particularly grateful to the President and the Board of Directors of the Stauffer Foundation and to all Faculty members of the Stauffer Academy for the trust and support they have never failed to give me over the last years.
Paolo Petrocelli
I thank all of them for having believed in an ambitious idea of growth and change and having supported a new artistic vision, based on the principles of excellence, innovation and global connections.
I am fully aware that I had an extraordinary opportunity: being able to contribute to the growth of one of the most prestigious and iconic Italian music institutions in the world. My sincere thanks go to my group of collaborators who, with commitment and passion, have helped me to achieve very ambitious goals. Thanks to all the students of the Academy, who with their enthusiasm and talent have been a continuous source of inspiration for me. Finally, thanks to the citizens of Cremona, who have welcomed me with sincere friendship and cordiality since my arrival in the city. This experience has left a deep mark, personally and professionally. I am now looking forward with great enthusiasm and motivation to my next professional chapter, leading such an iconic artistic organisation in Dubai.
Goodbye, Cremona!”.
The President, the Members of the Board and the team of the Stauffer Foundation, together with the Faculty Members and Professors of the Stauffer Academy, intend to express their most sincere thanks to Paolo Petrocelli for the excellent work done and the significant results achieved during his mandate.
We wish the best of luck to him for the beginning of his new prestigious international appointment.
