About the Instructor

• Maestro Federico Bardazzi is renowned for his specialization in Early and Baroque Music, holding a significant role across various operatic repertoires. Trained with notable musicians and educators, he masterfully conducts the Ensemble San Felice, covering a broad repertoire from Medieval to contemporary music and achieving widespread acclaim for his interpretations of Bach and Handel’s works. Bardazzi’s establishment of the Opera Network showcases his commitment to nurturing young artistic talent. His anticipated future productions and collaboration with the Landestheater of Salzburg further highlight his continued contribution to music. Additionally, as a Professor at the Giacomo Puccini Conservatory of La Spezia, he passionately imparts his extensive knowledge to emerging musicians, reaffirming his impactful presence in the global music community.
  
  Dr. Mitchell Hutchings is an acclaimed baritone celebrated in the U.S. and internationally. Winner of The American Prize in Vocal Performance in 2014, he has starred in principal roles with numerous prestigious opera companies and is a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences®. Recently, he played a crucial role in a winning project at San Diego Opera’s Opera Hack 3.0. He is the Program Faculty Leader of the “FAU Opera in Italy” study abroad program. Noted for his significant contribution to vocal pedagogy, Hutchings’ students have achieved success worldwide, performing with renowned companies and winning respected competitions. His diverse roles in operas like Gianni Schicchi and Sweeney Todd have earned widespread acclaim. Dr. Hutchings holds music degrees from the Eastman School of Music, Florida State University, and Western Carolina University. Personal website:www.mitchellhutchings.com
  
  Dr. Alessandra Montali is a renowned pianist and musicologist who graduated from the University of Bologna—the world’s oldest university. Her groundbreaking thesis on Giacinto Scelsi has paved the way for a deeper understanding and appreciation of 20th-century music. A published author and renowned speaker, Dr. Montali has graced various prestigious international platforms, sharing her insights on notable musicians of the past century. Now a distinguished professor at the Giacomo Puccini Conservatory in La Spezia, she is also the founder of the youth choral group Juvenes Cantores in Sarzana and the Artistic Director of the InCanto Armonico Festival since 2016. Her invaluable contributions to the world of music, both in education and performance, continue to inspire and influence many.
  
  Nicole Perry is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance at Florida Atlantic University, a Silver Palm award-winning intimacy director, as well as intimacy coordinator. Career highlights include intimacy coordination for God Forbid (Hulu), and a Carbonell nomination for the intimacy in To Fall in Love (Theatre Lab at FAU). Nicole has worked as an Intimacy Director for Florida Grand Opera and a choreographer and dancer for Center City Opera Theatre (Philadelphia). She holds an MFA from Goddard College. Personal website:www.NicolePerry.org
  
  Dr. Ilaria Serra, born in Venice, Italy, serves as a Professor of Italian and Comparative Studies and the coordinator of the FAU Italian Program. Her extensive research spans from Italian American Studies and cinema to literature, history through popular songs, and the Italian immigration narrative to the U.S. She is the founder and co-leader of the FAU Study Abroad Program in Venice, where she instructs the course “Venice and Its Reflections.” A two-time recipient of the FAU’s Scholar of the Year Award (2012, 2020), Dr. Serra has made significant contributions to digital humanities with projects like the “Italian American Oral History Archive,” “Italian American Memories Documentary Archive,” and “Floritalians.” She spearheads the FAU Italian and Italian American Film Festivals and organizes the annual “Italy in Transit” International Symposium. Recently, she was honored with an EU-Jean Monnet Center of Excellence grant.