The Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music (PIMS, Pontificium Institutum Musicae Sacrae) has appointed Luca Buzzavi as Professor for Children’s and Youth Choir Conducting. In the program he will teach children’s and youth choir conducting, voice training and physiology, repertoire, ear training and music theory with children, as well as developmental teaching skills and different aspects of choir management.
Mr. Buzzavi graduated in pre-polyphony at the Conservatorio G. Verdi in Turin, in choral conducting and choral composition (with honors and special mention) at the Conservatorio G. Frescobaldi Conservatory in Ferrara, he has a doctorate in physics, a master’s degree in educational sciences, and several university master’s degrees in didactics and pedagogy. He is currently completing a two-year composition course at the Ferrara Conservatory and teaches choral conducting, choral exercises and Gregorian chant at different conservatories. In addition, he is artistic director of choir festivals and leader of multiple choirs.
The Children’s and Youth Choir Conducting program is designed to enable students to work independently in the planning, implementation, and organization of children’s and youth choir work. Comprehensive theoretical and practical skills in the field of children’s and youth choir work are geared toward the special needs of responsible and sustainable work with young people and the use of their own voices. Ideally a collaboration with Pueri Cantores and a parish in Rome is established, whose children’s choir will sing in the parish and also serve as a rehearsal choir for students.
The selection process took place June 3 and 4, 2025, in Rome. Five applicants were invited, four of whom took part. The process consisted of the following: Vocal coaching of a PIMS student, vocal coaching of a boy from the Capella Sistina, choir rehearsal with children from the “German School” and a colloquium. The examination committee constisted of P. Robert Mehlhart OP (principal), Silvano Presciuttini (vice-principal), Walter Marzilli (Professor for Choir Conducting), Grazia Maria Schiavo (Professor for Voice), Gabriele Sichler-Karle (Pueri Cantores International) and Ferdinand Prinz zur Lippe (Magnificat Foundation).
The process was a successful collaboration of PIMS, Pueri Cantores International and Capella Sistina.
Ferdinand Prinz zur Lippe (Magnificat Foundation), Walter Marzilli (Professor for Choir Conducting), Gabriele Sichler-Karle (Pueri Cantores International), P. Robert Mehlhart OP (PIMS principal), Michele Marinelli (vocal coach at Cappella Sistina), Grazia Maria Schiavo (Professor for Voice), Silvano Presciuttini (PIMS vice-principal) and three boys from the Capella Sistina
