2021
The Pre-College course of the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana is awarded with the 'Label Pre-College Music CH' label

2020
In a year dominated by the Pandemic, closures and uncertainty, on 24 September 2020, the Conservatorio managed to celebrate its 35 years of activity, in the beautiful setting of the LAC, with two concerts in presence of the Orchestra giovanile della Svizzera italiana, the Coro Clairière and the Orchestra sinfonica del Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana.

2019
In December, the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana Foundation submits the request to the Swiss Association of Schools of Music (ASSM) and the Conference of Swiss Universities of Music (CSUMS) to use the trademark Pre-College Music CH. 

2018
The Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana Foundation voluntarily undergoes a peer-review by the international accreditation agency MusiQuE, for its Undergraduate Degree and the Pre-College Department. It is the first case in Switzerland.

2016
The SUPSI Master of Arts (double degree) in Music Pedagogy with specialization in Elementary Music Education, and in Music Education Teaching for Secondary I level is now open. It is a collaboration between the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana and the Dipartimento Formazione e Apprendimento (DFA) SUPSI.

The Master's degree is recognised by CDPE, so it qualifies students to teach in the secondary I sector throughout Switzerland. In addition, following a resolution by the Council of State in 2007, it also qualifies to teach music education in primary schools in the Canton Ticino.

2015
The new cultural centre "LAC - Lugano Arte e Cultura" is inaugurated. The Conservatory celebrates its 30th anniversary there, shortly before the opening, amidst concerts and sold-out crowds. 

2010
The first editions of the Master's courses are completed. The School strengthens its relationships with the rest of the Country gaining the Presidency – run by the director of the CSI – of the Conference of Directors of Swiss Universities of Music (Konferenz Musikhochschulen Schweiz / KMHS), which aims to represent the interests of Swiss professional music education at both, the national and international level. On 20 December, the 4 Master's courses are accredited.

2008
The first editions of the Bachelor's degrees are completed. The first Bologna Masters courses begin. The Conservatory gives itself a new internal structure, making the three departments (University, Pre-professional, Music School) more autonomous.

2006
The Conservatory's University of Music is affiliated with SUPSI.

2005
The Conference of Directors of Public Education (CDPE) grants the Conservatory definitive recognition as a University of Music, and the Grand Council of Canton Ticino sanctions its affiliation to SUPSI. The Conservatory starts with the new "Bologna" Bachelors. 

2004
The Conservatory wins the prestigious Lily Wäckerlin Jugend und Musik award from the ACCENTUS Foundation in Zurich, for a project in Elementary Music Education (EME).

2003
Introduction of the Diploma in Conducting for the contemporary repertoire.

First exchanges of students and teachers in the framework of the European project "ERASMUS".

First joint collaboration between the Conservatory, the Scuola Teatro Dimitri and the Department of Environment, Construction and Design of SUPSI for the production of "Les Mariés de la Tour Eiffel" by Jean Cocteau.

Mastery Through Imitation, in collaboration with the Royal College of Music, London: the first research project at the Conservatory supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology (OPET). 

2002
The Services and Post-education department is established.

The school is a founding member and committee member of the Conference of Swiss Universities of Music (KMHS).

2000
The Conservatoire obtains provisional recognition as a University of Music.

The Research and Development Department (DRS) is established. 

1999
The Fondazione Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana (CSI) replaces the former Conservatory Association. On the basis of the recently voted Law on Universities of Applied Sciences and the respective Profile of Universities of Music, the transformation into a University of Music begins, on a cantonal mandate. The Pre-professional section is created.

The first season of "Novecento e Presente", conceived by Giorgio Bernasconi in collaboration with Rete Due, is launched, arousing enormous interest in the music of the last century.

1998
The Conservatory moves to the Centro San Carlo. 

1995
The first youth orchestra of the Music School is founded.

1994
On 6 December 1994, the first convention is signed between the Canton and the Conservatorio for its professional section

1992
The Conservatory collaborates for the first time with the Orchestra della Svizzera italiana.

1988
Diplomas are recognised at cantonal and intercantonal level.

The Conservatory becomes a member of the Conference of Directors of Swiss Conservatories.

1985
Armin Brenner founds the Accademia di Musica della Svizzera italiana.

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is the highest body of the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana Foundation and includes between seven and eleven members.

The Board of Trustees manages the assets of the Foundation, supervises its activities, and approves the annual financial statements, the annual report, and the budget. The Board of Trustees appoints the Auditing Body, the President of the Executive Board, the other members of the Executive Board, and the Department Managers. It establishes their terms of employment; it also appoints, on the proposal of the Executive Board, one of its members as a delegate to the Board of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI). On the proposal of the Executive Board, the Board of Trustees adopts a Regulation that governs the organisation, the strategic and operational instruments, the tasks, and the competencies of the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana. Finally, it ratifies the organisation chart, and the assignment of specific functions to the persons responsible for education and the main services for the activities of the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana, such as department heads and area managers.

(extract from the Statutes of the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana Foundation)

Board of Trustees – Members

Ina Piattini Pelloni, presidente
Giancarlo Dillena, vice presidente 
Annamaria Albek
Carlo Donadini
Franco Mornata
Elena Maria Pandolfi, delegata della Repubblica e Cantone Ticino
Luca Soncini
Guido Turati

Executive Board

The Board of Trustees appoints the Executive Board and its President. The President of the Executive Board assumes the position of General Director of the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana. In principle, the Executive Board must represent the three departments. Its members participate in the meetings of the Board of Trustees, with no voting rights.

The Executive Board is responsible for the management and administration of the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana, and for representing its various bodies vis-à-vis third parties. The Executive Board deliberates and decides on all matters, except those assigned to the Board of Trustees by law or by the Statutes.

The Executive Board collaborates with the Board of Trustees in formulating the strategic objectives in those areas where the interests of the Board of Trustees and those of the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana are closely connected.

The President of the Executive Board convenes the meetings. The Executive Board decides by a simple majority of votes. In the event of a tie, the decision is submitted to the Board of Trustees, or to a delegation of the Board of Trustees that is competent in the subject matter of the contested decision.

(extract from the Statutes of the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana Foundation)

Executive Board - Members

Christoph Brenner, General Director
Luca Medici, Member of the Executive Board
Fabio Favoroso, Member of the Executive Board

Organigram

(web version)

The Code of Conduct of the Fondazione Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana, adopted by the Foundation Board in September 2022, sets out the rules to ensure respectful behaviour in the daily life of the School in order to support and promote calm, constructive and respectful cooperation.

This document reaffirms that our School aims to be open and diverse. It constitutes the point of reference for the evaluation of behaviour deemed inappropriate. It applies to all persons working or studying in our Institute.

LINK TO BROCHURE (in Italian)

Mission

The aim of the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana Foundation is to promote the dissemination of musical culture in Southern Switzerland offering basic and professional education and supporting artistic projects.

The professional education is internationally renowned and conducted under the Law of the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), and research Institutes, of the 1995, October 3rd.

The Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana Foundation also promotes:

• continuing education and post-graduate training;
• research and development;
• services;
• cooperation with other national and international institutes; 
• cooperation with other artistic institutions.

The Foundation exclusively pursues public benefit purposes and refrains from any profit or private interest.

(Foundation’ Statute, art. 3)

Vision

Music embeds our culture, our everyday life.
It enriches our quality of life and contributes to the development of society. The Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana Foundation considers musical education (as a public school and Music School) and musical training and continuing education (as a University of Music) as something necessary: they both represent its raison d’être.

The Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana intends to be an institute for education, training, and research, but at the same time a cultural engine for the region and abroad. It aims to be rooted in its community and universally renowned as a centre of reference for all different aspects of music.

Values

The Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana Foundation most important values are:

• territoriality, as the Music School and Pre-College Departments are deeply rooted in their communities;
• internationality, as the University of Music is inevitably internationally-oriented;
• quality, a guide value for selection of employees, the faculty and the management, and the shared will to keep on improving;
• effectiveness and efficiency, thanks to its light bureaucracy, proactive orientation, and precise and prudent financial management.

Strategic Projects

In the short-mid term, the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana Foundation undertakes five major strategic projects:

1. A new headquarter: this is the most relevant project. To promptly respond to the architectural and sound needs of a Conservatory (rooms for individual rehearsal, rooms for ensembles, concert halls, recording rooms, an equipped library, etc.), a new and remarkable venue, which will be permanent and well equipped, is mandatory.
2. Music School funding: as another relevant objective, the School of Music seeks financial stabilization to be able to invest more in quality and innovation, with a direct benefit for the students.
3. Fundraising for scholarships: this is an increasing activity to financially support the most excellent students from the Music School, the Pre-College, and the University of Music.
4. Musical instruments acquisition (Renewal Plan): this project includes the purchase of high-quality musical instruments to cover the many and specific specializations offered at the Conservatory.
5. Support to the Musical Ensembles: the musical ensemble is considered a fundamental activity at the Conservatory. Especially the School of Music and the Pre-College, they both include several youth ensemble programmes, as the Southern Switzerland Youth Orchestra and the Clairière Choir. Those projects run an intense artistic programme, both in Switzerland and abroad, but lack financial support, as the Conservatory can only cover the essential expenses.

Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

The Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana Foundation adopts high-quality standards and frequently submits to successful external peer-reviews on a volunteer basis. The three departments work with a limited or planned number of students, but usually collect a greater number of qualified applications.

The Music School (SMUS) is the biggest and the most pervasive music school in the region. Its 85 teachers possess an acknowledged artistic and pedagogic diplomas, and it enrols 1’200 students in 4 locations, and 500 students in summer camps. The Music School offers a complete education programme with a total of 2’000 musical classes, 700 hours of individual, collective, ensemble, and orchestras classes. The Music School is a significant nurturing place for local young talents.

The Pre-College (PRE) is the only department of classical music that offers students from high schools the opportunity to prepare for a University of music in the region. Students who brilliantly graduate at the Pre-College are almost 100% successful at the entry tests of the University of Music, both in Switzerland and abroad.

The University of Music (SUM) is a small and richly dynamic department immersed in a familiar but international environment, that attracts high-quality professors and students from over 40 Countries in the world. Quality and excellence-oriented, it boasts an excellent and internationally renowned faculty. Qualified applications are numerous and constantly increasing.

This Action Plan of the Fondazione Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana (FCSI) for the years 2021-2024, edited by the Foundation Management, covers both the areas of responsibility of the Foundation (namely logistics, finance and CI) and those assigned to the Departments, within the scope of their operational autonomy.

ACTION PLAN 2021-24  (in Italian)

The Gender & Diversity service covers the whole Foundation and aims to integrate gender mainstreaming and attention to diversity and inclusion at all levels of the School.

LINK TO BROCHURE (in Italian)

Zhen Xu

International relations coordinator for Asia
University of Music

Tel. +41 (0)77 910 02 49
zhen.xu@conservatorio.ch