History
Peter Fender first organised an orchestral course in Italy in 2014, in Scicli, south-eastern Sicily. That course will run for the 9th time in 2027. It has been so successful, that Peter decided to look into running similar courses in other parts of Italy – hence the Lugo course started in 2024!
Peter first visited Lugo and its environs in 2016, assisting on a recording by violinist Enrico Gramigia. When Peter discussed with Enrico the possibility of doing a course in the area he was introduced to Matteo Penazzi, an organiser of musical and cultural events who is based in Lugo, including the award-winning Lugo Music Festival. It is with Matteo that Peter organised this exciting new course, which started in 2024.
Who’s Who
Peter began his musical career as an early music specialist, playing violin regularly with groups such as the Academy of Ancient Music, the Sixteen and the Hanover Band. More recently his focus has shifted towards conducting. In 2007 he formed the orchestra Philharmonia Britannica, keen to create interesting juxtapositions by mixing music with other art forms, such as acting, poetry, dance, comedy or video. He is also currently the musical director of The Angel Orchestra, and the 6 Centuries Chamber Choir. Aside from his native England he has conducted across Europe. Known for his innovative programming, he has conducted many works by unjustly neglected female composers (Imogen Holst, Ethel Smyth, Amy Beach and Louise Farrenc, amongst others). Peter has regularly led conducting workshops – from days introducing conducting to non-musicians to advanced classes with full orchestra.
Peter has composed a wide variety of music, and has released three CDs of his music. As an arranger and editor he has worked on music by composers such as Ethel Smyth, Imogen Holst, Monteverdi and Haydn. He is currently undergoing a PhD working on Ethel Smyth’s first opera, Fantasio. Full details of his musical activities (plus a short film about him) are on his website. Peter feels that a year is not a proper one unless it contains at least three trips to Italy … preferably by train 🙂
Nikki Gleed is a London-based violinist in demand as an orchestral player with leading UK orchestras and chamber ensembles. Her career has led her to perform in Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica and Europe.
A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London, Nikki began learning from her grandfather and spent seven years as a Scholarship pupil at Wells Cathedral School. She was member of Southbank Sinfonia with whom she performed Bruch’s Violin Concerto and later furthered her studies in New York with Joey Corpus.
Nikki held a job with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra for eight years, has freelanced extensively with orchestras such as the Philharmonia Orchestra, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra and is currently associate First Violin of the London Mozart Players. Nikki has twenty years of experience working regularly with the Royal Ballet and Opera in Covent Garden. As the Leader of Nevil Holt Opera in its formative years, Nikki led productions of Magic Flute, La Bohème, Carmen and Rigoletto. Leading the orchestra at London’s Coliseum for Ivan Putrov’s Against the Stream gala, Nikki performed the violin solo in Tchaikovsky’s Entr’acte from The Sleeping Beauty.
Nikki enjoys performing in multiple musical styles and genres including with Heritage Orchestra and Dua Lipa live at Royal Albert Hall in 2024. As leader of Orchestra Qawwali Project Nikki has performed at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and The Royal Albert Hall where she guest lead the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, performing on a Nicolo Gagliano violin kindly loaned to her by Florian Leonhard Fine Violins.
Matteo Polizzi graduated from the “G.B. Martini” Conservatory of Bologna in 2022, and continued his studies in France, Bologna and Dublin, as well as participating in masterclasses with many important cello teachers. He has won prizes at the Val Tidone International Competition, the “Luigi Zanuccoli” Competition for Young Musicians in Sogliano al Rubicone, the Cortemilia International Music Competition, the Liezen International Cello Competition, and in the “Cantiere Bologna” talent show.
In 2017-2022 he held the position of prinicpal cello in the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale dei Conservatori Italiani. He has performed Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme and the Schumann Cello Concerto at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, and was the cello soloist in Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante, performed for the composer’s 210th anniversary and broadcast worldwide from Eisenstadt, a live recording of which was released on DVD. Alongside his solo and many chamber music activities, Matteo maintains a busy orchestral career in Italy and abroad, including working with Gustav Kuhn’s Orchesterakademie at the Tiroler Festspiele in Erl, the Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, the Filarmonica del Teatro Comunale in Bologna, the Filarmonica del Teatro Comunale in Modena, and the Orchestra Fondazione Luciano Pavarotti.
A new CD of music by Vivaldi, which Matteo recorded on the cello piccolo, is soon to be released on the Tactus label.