The 2025 Accordi Musicali Academy’s Cello Masterclasses Mark Their Final Day

Hosted at the historic Palazzo dei Veneziani, the event featured distinguished professors Alexander Chaushian (UK/Armenia), Marc Coppey (France), and Gustav Rivinius (Germany), who guided a cohort of talented young cellists from across Europe and beyond.

The third and final day began with continued one-on-one instruction from Professor Marc Coppey, whose sessions with students such as Kamila Šitinová, Leo Levêque, Panshuo Wang, and Lyuwa Xiao, were marked by detailed work on musical articulation and expressive character. Meanwhile, Professor Alexander Chaushian offered his final rounds of instruction, pushing students, including Lyana Ulikhanyan, and Flora Valila, to think beyond the notes on the page and connect more fully with the emotional heart of each work.

The atmosphere at Palazzo dei Veneziani was one of warmth, camaraderie, and pride as teachers, students, and staff gathered to reflect on a successful session. Throughout the three days, students benefited from the unique combination of individual mentorship and communal learning that defines the Accordi Musicali experience.

Indeed, speaking at the conclusion of the masterclasses, the participants praised the academy’s welcoming spirit, the quality of instruction, and the opportunity to work closely with some of today’s most respected cellists. Many also expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to study in such a stunning location, with Chieti’s beauty complementing the richness of their musical experience.

“I really like the professors and the masterclasses here”, Ulikhanyan said, “and I really like this city as well because it's very calm and peaceful, and it’s full of history. I have been studying with Professor Chaushian; it was not my first time with him, but it’s been very interesting, and I’ve learnt many things that I will use now and in the future as well – to truly feel the emotional character of a piece, and really understand what it is that I am playing, and express these emotions in my music.”

Chaushian himself, meanwhile, expressed similar sentiments, stating that “it has been a really wonderful time here. This is, I think, the third time that I have been here in Chieti, and it's such a charming city – wonderful food, wonderful atmosphere, and everything is very well organised. There are people who take care of every single need a musician can have, and they take it personally, so it's a real pleasure to be here!”

“I think music and education is of number one importance for anyone”, he continued, “not just young musicians, but especially young musicians! Music is a language that is able to transcend all else; you don't really need to know many different languages in order to feel music. You just can feel the music, which is already like a miracle and a gift, because you can have composers like Bach or Beethoven who are sending a message to us today. We can hear their language, and feel their emotions right here, in our very own time!”

As the 2025 edition of the cello masterclasses draws to a close, the Accordi Musicali Academy now looks ahead to the remainder of its summer programming, with the violin courses coming up next, as it seeks to continue its mission to nurture the next generation of classical artists through expert guidance and high-level performance opportunities.