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Maestri of the Polyphonic Group "Claudio Monteverdi"

The Polyphonic Group “Claudio Monteverdi” was founded in 1976, and its course has been guided by four Maestri who followed one another in the conduction.

Matjaž Šček

Since January 2008 is the artistic director of the Polyphonic Group "Claudio Monteverdi"

Matjaž Šček was born in a family of musicians in 1958 in Koper. His great musical talent took him to Ljubljana, where he studied the piano at first, but later he dedicated his life and studies to choral music. He studied to become a conductor at Ljubljana Academy of Music and with an accomplished Slovene conductor and composer Lojze Lebič.

In his carreer he has had a lot of success with various choirs, but he has reached the highest with Ljubljana Madrigalists, which he led from 1991 to 2001. For four years he conducted the Chamber Choir of Radio Slovenia and in 1996 he started his work in Vipava with Ipavska Chamber Choir. Republic of Slovenia Public Fund for Cultural Activities recognized Šček’s immense contribution to the field of choral music and awarded him the highest prize, Gold Gallus Plaque in 2001.
Stefano Sacher

from July 1999 since december 2007 conducted the Polyphonic Group “Claudio Monteverdi”.
Stefano Sacher (Trieste, 1962), university graduate in Literary studies, studied composition, singing, choral music, orchestra conduction and jazz music, graduating at the “G. Tardini” Conservatory in Trieste and at the “G.B. Martini” Conservatory in Bologna.

He perfectioned his composition skills with Antonio Bibalo (in Norway), in choir conduction with Samuil Vidas, in orchestra conduction with Donato Renzetti and opera conduction with Bruno Rigacci. He wrote choral and instrumental music, the opera “Trobarclos” (which he conducted and taped for RAI), songs, ballets, and stage-music. Some of his works have been performed during concerts and International festivals aired by both Italian and foreign television networks.

He is working in the music field since 1985 and regularly conducts operas and concerts in Europe, Asia, Latin America and North America. In 1998 he won ex-aequo the National Contest “Laboratorio Lirico” in Alessandria, working as Maestro collaborator to the preparation of two contemporary operas, “Jakob Lenz” by W. Rihm and “The martyrdom of St. Magnus” by P. Maxwell Davies.

He also conducted the Budapest Academic Orchestra, Nova Sinfonietta, Mongolian Opera Orchestra, the Orchestra of Havana’s Theatre, the Stradivarius Chamber Orchestra and the Serenade Ensemble.
Preferably conducts choral and symphonic-coral music from the XVII to the XV Century, lyrical Operas by Verdi, Puccini, Mascagni, symphonic and orchestral productions of the XX Century and jazz repertoire for bigbands.
Valentino Tessaro

from 1997 to June 1999 conducted the Polyphonic Group “Claudio Monteverdi.

He begun his musical studies with professor Tremonti and professor Renato Della Torre; he went on at the Conservatory in Venice with the Maestros Vincenzo Fertile and Giovanni Umberto Battei, brilliantly graduating in piano playing. At the same time, he completed his Humanistic studies graduating in Pedagogy at the University of Trieste.

Within the musical area, he developed and he is still developing a vast research, transcripting and executing activity, especially of traditional Friulan music, combined with choir conduction and coir accompanist.
Luca Bonutti

from 1996 to 1997 conducted the Polyphonic Group “Claudio Monteverdi”.

He was only 17 years old when he started his musical activity, as conductor of the “Castions delle Mura” Choir, pushed to go on by the people who saw in him all the talents that in the following years were even more developed.

As an evidence of that, there is the brilliant 1st place at the VI National Contest “Cori Alpini alle armi” (Alpine Choirs at the arms) at whom he participated conducting the Alpine Brigade Julia’s Choir.

Apart from conducting, which sees him focused also on frequent perfecting courses with Maestros such as Grandini, Gabbiani, Sanna and Righele, he is a dedicated piano student, of which he owns a very good technical-constructive knowledge. This allows him to perform concerts as a solo or as accompanist, always receiving very good reviews both by the press and the public, not to mention the fact that he is a member of the Italian Association of Piano Tuners and Repairers.

He is currently a member of the Provincial Artistic USCF Commission.

He studied under the guide of Maestro Renato della Torre.
Orlando Dipiazza

From 1976 to 1996 conducted the Polyphonic Group “Claudio Monteverdi”
Maestro Orlando Dipiazza graduated in choral music and choir conduction with Bruno Cervenca at the “G. Tartini” Conservatory in Trieste. Even though his main activity is choir conduction (he conducted the Philharmonic “G. Verdi” of Ronchi Legionari, the “Polyphonic Choir Ruda”, the “Madrigalisti” of Gorizia, the Choir at the musical lyceum “J. Tomadini” of Udine), he also composed a notable number of both vocal and instrumental operas.
In particular, we want to mention:
1. Theatre: “Il testamento di Arlecchino” (Harlequin’s testament), “La Luna” (The Moon) one-act didactical opera;
2. Vocal and instrumental operas: “Gloria” (for soprano, baritone, choir and orchestra), “Alcesti” (from R.M. Rilke for reciter, soprano, bass, choir and orchestra), “Due canti popolari italiani” (Two traditional Italian songs, for voice and small orchestra), “Canti del vecchio Friuli” (Songs of the old Friuli, for children’s voices and piano), “Il tamburino magico” (The magic drum, for children’s voices and small orchestra);
3. Chamber lyrics: “Tre canti di Biagio Marin” (Three songs by Biagio Marin), “Tre liriche friulane” (Three Friulan lyrics).
Numerous are also both the choral, original compositions and popular songs’ re-elaborations. Those of didactic character are constantly published on the magazine “La Cartellina”. Various compositions can be found in the catalogues of Milan’s “Suvini & Zerboni” and of Rome’s “Pro Musica Studium”. In 1983, 1985 and 1986 three of his collections of “Canti popolari friulani” (Friulan popular songs), and in 1988 an anthology of popular songs, of special interest for schools, were published by “Suvini & Zerboni”.
He has been awarded in numerous composition contests, in 1980 he won the Contest for the centennial of F.B. Pratella in Lugo di Romagna, in 1981 and 1983 those organised by the Choir Federation of Veneto and Trentino, in 1984 the International Contest “Guido d’Arezzo”; in 1985 and 1987 he won the first prize at Milan’s U.S.C.I. Contests; in 1990 he places himself second at the Tours International Contest with the composition “Missa Brevis”; in 1992 he won in Rome the first prize at the Paolo Valenti’s “Musica and Sport” Contest and also won the first prize of Udine’s Friulan Philological Society Contest; in 1993 he won at Trieste’s U.S.C.I. Contest and also receives the prize “Nadal Furlan”; in 1994 he won the Contest for the Gorizia Archdiocese’s hymn.

He is a member of the Artistic Commission at the International Contest “Seghizzi” in Gorizia and of the National Commission of Feniarco.