Press Releases

BBT announces the fifth edition of the Franco Buitoni Award which goes to Leonardo Ramadori (percussion) and Simone Frondini (oboe) in recognition of their enduring commitment to bringing the joy and appreciation of classical music to many differently underprivileged communities throughout Umbria. The award was conceived by Ilaria Borletti Buitoni as a tribute to her late husband and co-founder of the Borletti-Buitoni Trust, Franco Buitoni (1934-2016), to acknowledge Italian musicians who promote and encourage chamber music at home and abroad. Given every other year and traditionally announced on Franco’s birthday, the award (£20,000) will be presented by Ilaria Borletti Buitoni on 22 March at Perugia’s Town Hall in the presence of the Mayor, Vittoria Ferdinandi and the Chair of the Fondazione Perugia Musica Classica, Anna Calabro.

Ramadori and Frondini’s project, Musica per Crescere (Music to Grow With), began over 20 years ago in 2002: having recognised that the region of Italy they call home has very little institutional music provision – including schools where music is no longer part of the curriculum – they took their idea for a children’s music project to Umbria’s most prestigious music association, Amici della Musica di Perugia, of which Franco Buitoni was the President. Their mission was to inspire and bring together children and their families through creation, appreciation and performance of music: “What we believed was fundamental to the success of these shows was the point of view from which we introduced the programmes: we always placed ourselves on the side of the audience and gradually we developed a musical ‘literacy’ that could break down the barriers between ‘easy’ music that is heard on the radio every day and the ‘important’ music that we presented.”

From these beginnings Musica per Crescere has become a well-established programme of the Fondazione Perugia Musica Classica and Frondini and Ramadori have created over 40 productions for schools throughout the municipality of Perugia and beyond. In parallel they have also devised concert and workshop activities for people of all ages from many other communities, including teenagers, adults, the elderly, the disabled, the sick and the imprisoned.

Ilaria Borletti-Buitoni comments: “I have been a huge admirer of Simone and Leonardo’s work for many years and I have seen the results of their unwavering dedication to creating awareness and enjoyment of live music, especially for children. I truly believe that classical music has an important role to play in everybody’s lives; the experience of listening to music is a unique experience, but it acquires even more value when shared with others. And that sense of community promotes a sense of wellbeing and participation – vital elements for today’s way of life when so much social ‘interaction’ is via various media. Classical music has to find its relevance in the 21st century and, in this respect, I fully support Simone and Leonardo’s aims and intentions and, of course, their deeds.”

Information on the Franco Buitoni Award and previous recipients: www.bbtrust.com/franco-buitoni-award