Annalisa Monticelli
Annalisa Monticelli is a highly sought-after musician, recognised for her performances and teaching across Europe, Asia, the USA, and South America.
Her studies in Piano, Voice, Conducting, Music Education, Musicology, Chamber Music, and Jazz in Italy were guided by esteemed musicians such as Bruno Canino, Daniel Rivera, Eugenia Rozental, Cinzia Gizzi, and Douglas Weeks, among others. Annalisa gave her first solo recital and launched her career as an accompanist at the age of 10. She earned the Diploma in Piano Teaching & Performance from the Conservatorio de Música Luis Gianneo in Argentina at the age of 16, graduating with the highest honours. She holds Summa cum Laude Master’s Degrees in Piano Performance and Music Education (with a focus on conducting and composition) from the Arcangelo Corelli Conservatory in Italy, a Summa cum Laude Master’s in Music from the Petrie School of Music in the USA, and post-graduate diplomas in Chamber Music (from the Fiesole School of Music in Florence), Accompanying, and Advanced Piano. Throughout her career, Annalisa has been a multiple prize-winner in both national and international competitions.
In 2006, Annalisa began her professional vocal coaching career, initially working for the Montalto Opera Program in Montalto Ligure, Italy, and accompanying masterclasses led by renowned Wagnerian soprano Rebecca Turner (USA) and others. Since then, her primary focus has been on working with English-speaking singers as a vocal and language coach.
After spending three years in the USA, Annalisa moved to Ireland, where she served as a collaborative pianist at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, later assuming the roles of Italian and vocal coach. In 2015, she became Assistant Lecturer and Repetiteur at Dundalk Institute of Technology, where she also served as Program Director for the Music and Musical Theatre programs.
In 2014, following an invitation from American conductor Dr. John Ratledge, Annalisa became Head Accompanist, Vocal Coach, and Executive Director for the Bassi Brugnatelli International Symposium for Singers and Conductors in Italy. Since relocating to Ireland, she has performed at major Irish venues, collaborated with the Irish National Opera as a pianist and Italian coach, and released several CDs. In recent years, Annalisa has performed and taught across Europe, Asia, and North America.
Annalisa's early research focused on the influence of Native American music on the academic music of Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. More recently, her work has shifted to the music of Italian-born composer Michele Esposito, with particular emphasis on his significant influence on Irish music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as his piano school developed at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. To further advance this research, she is currently pursuing a part-time PhD under the supervision of Dr. Maria McHale at TU Dublin. Annalisa recently received the Premio Michele Esposito in recognition of her contributions to the research and dissemination of this Italian composer’s work.
An eclectic musician with over twenty years of experience, Annalisa has coached and performed across diverse musical genres, including Opera, Musical theatre, Chamber Music, Improvisation, Tango, Jazz, and Latin American music.