A YEAR AFTER THE INAUGURATION OF THE SCHOOL THAT WAS GIVEN BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN THE MARCHE REGION, THE G. LEOPARDI SCHOOL IN SARNANO AND THE ANDREA BOCELLI FOUNDATION WERE AT THE CENTER OF A SPECIAL DAY THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER 11 SCHOOLS FROM THE REGION

“A surge of vitality, passion and a desire to grow, and an infusion of confidence for all:  these young people are the perfect example of the regenerating power of music and the ability of a community that has been hurt to begin again, with strength, and to contribute to building the future, both their own and of our country”. These are the words of Veronica Berti Bocelli, the Vice-Chair of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation. ABF which, together with the G.“Leopardi” middle school in Sarnano, has conceived and created the “SI FA MUSICA INSIEME – LET’S MAKE MUSIC TOGETHER” project a year after the school’s inauguration.

Over 500 young people, students from schools with a music-centered curricula and dance high schools in the Marche region, gathered in the building that was donated by the “Andrea Bocelli Foundation” and the “Only the Brave Foundation” (which stands where the school that was hit by the 2016 earthquake stood) and later at the local sports hall and made music together on Wednesday, 29 May, using the many instruments found in the educational spaces dedicated to music and multimedia, which the school has thanks to a grant from the SIAE (Italian Society of Authors and Publishers).

The “G. Leopardi”, through this artistic marathon, ideally celebrated an institutional recognition that adds a significant added value to the educational offer proposed by the educational institute to the Marche community: in fact, starting next year, it will be a fully-fledged a middle school with a music-centered curricula.

The talented students of the “G. Leopardi” National Boarding School in Macerata, the “Ugo Betti” school in Camerino, the Comprehensive School in Armandola, the “Nardi” school in Porto San Giorgio, the “Fracassetti-Capodarco” school in Fermo and the “P. Tacchi Venturi” school in San Severino Marche performed in the morning.In the afternoon, the school principal Maura Ghezzi announced the special recognition obtained by the school. Then the greetings by the newly elected Mayor Luca Piegentili and the representatives of the local administration, followed by ABF’s Vice+Chair Veronica Berti Bocelli, who personally awarded the participating schools with a symbolic “Gold Record”.  The ceremony, which was presented by the singer – and ABF volunteer – Ilaria della Bidia, then included the performance of a special guest, Matteo Bocelli, who received a resounding applause from the teenagers present in particular: following in his father’s footsteps, he is one of the most interesting emerging singers on the international stage and also very actively involved in the foundation’s volunteer work.

“It is a joy to bring here the testimony of an ABF volunteer and that of a boy for whom adolescence passed not too long ago – Matteo pointed out – aware of how important this moment of life is, full of doubts but also of discoveries and encounters that can change one’s life. Music, for everyone, not only for those whose ambition is to make it their profession, is like taking the mind and the heart to the gym: it makes people better and stronger”.

Accompanied by pianist Piero Frassi, in Sarnano, Matteo Bocelli proposed, among others the song “Fall on me”, arousing frank enthusiasm in the audience of young aspiring musicians.

Another friend of the Bocelli family and the Foundation also got a warm reception – Andrea Paris, the pyrotechnic magician who is fresh off his remarkable personal success on Italia’s Got Talent.

The performance of the “hosts” came next, the students from “Leopardi”, followed by the musical performances of the students from the “Giulianova 1” school in Giulianova, the “Don Bosco” school and the “Filelfo” higher education institute in Tolentino.

Last but not least, between the applauses, ABF bade farewell until June 26, when the new “E. De Amicis” pre-school and elementary school will be inaugurated in Muccia, another town hit by the 2016 earthquake, which is being built by the Bocelli Foundation in 150 days and will be donated to the local community as a “turnkey” project.