A Brief History
The Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Music came into existence thanks to a royal decree of 1807 in Milan, which was then the capital of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy. The college opened a year later with classes taking place inside the cloisters of the nearby church of Santa Maria della Passione. To the surprise of many visitors today, the 18 students in residence included both males and females.
In the more than 200 years since its foundation, the conservatory has played a critical role in nourishing the talent of students who have gone on to capture the imagination of the country. Outstanding conductors and musicians who graduated from here include Oscar Bianchi, Luca Francesconi, Giovanni Bottesini, Kurken Alemshah, Italo Montemezzi, Feliciano Strepponi and many others. The year 1971 witnessed another addition in the form of the Liceo Musicale for secondary school students. This was followed by a successful experimental collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Education.
