A unique artist
Acclaimed by international critics, Maria Luisa MacellaroLa Franca is considered one of the most interesting conductors and pianists of the new generation. In addition to conducting, Maria Luisa Macellaro La Franca is are nowned pianist, her repertoire ranges from ancient music on ancient instruments to modern music. She began studying piano, composition and conducting at the V. Bellini Conservatory in Palermo, where she graduated with honors in 2000. Then she specialized in the prestigious Zurich Musik Hochschule in Zurich where she also graduated in jazz, composition, chamber music and early music, with honors.
As composer, Maria Luisa Macellaro La Franca has received several awards:
for the Cantata for the death of Falcone and Borsellino, she received the "Envie d'Agir" Prize for best musical creation in 2009,
LABEL IDDAC 2009 for best French theater opera 2009 and she was later named 2012 World Culture Ambassador for Italy.
Winner of countless prizes national and international piano competitions
(OsimoCoppa Pianisti d'Italia 1996, Grand Prix IBLA 2000 NewYork, Elsy Mayer Stiftung Zurich 2003),
she began a very young career which led her to perform in various countries and theaters such as Teatro Politeama of Palermo, the Bordeaux Opera, MAM Museum and Institute of Italian Culture of Rio de Janeiro, Berlin Synagogue and Hall of the Superior Conservatory of Dusserldorf, Auditorium of Los Andes Mendoza, Hall of the Banco Hipotecario Lujanin Argentina, Grosser Saal Zurich, Boccadoro Theater in Lugano, Collado Villalba Cultural Center in Madrid, Osaka Grand Theater in Japan, Presidential Hall in Ankara(Turkey)
Yamaha concert hall Bangkok ( Thailand)
For the composition "Emes Symphonie", she received the Prize of the General Council of Gironde, ambassador of human rights IHRO 2013, ambassador of women's rights in Music 2014, the International Commission on Human Rights, IGO as as a good will ambassador for peace and the ART Solunto 2016 festival.
Her original lyrical works are regularly performed in French and Italian theaters (Casino Bordeaux, Théâtre Jean Vilar Eysines, Bellegrave Pessac, Golden Palermo) and her musical chamber pieces are performed by great French personalities
In April 2018, she made her debut as a conductor in Ankara (Turkey) leading the Baskent Akademik Orkestra,a first for a woman, which allows her to enter thei nternational world of conducting, Maria Luisa also made her debut in June 2018 with the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana on international television with great success (2500 people came). During the 2018 2019 season, she debuted on December 27 in Salerno the "Bulgaria ClassicOrchestra" for its Christmas concert, the Orchestra Sinfonica di Sanremo in March 2019, with a premiere of Ina Boyle's Violin Concerto (in collaboration with the Ina Boyle Foundation in Dublin).
In June 2019, she began conducting the Philharmonic Orchestra of Craiova and Pitesti (June 7 and13) and on June 28 and 29 she conducted the French Riviera Orchestra (in symphonic version). Maria Luisa debuted in November in Australia with the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, on January 1 with the Firenze Chamber Orchestra, in February with the Les Virtuoses de Bordeaux orchestra. In July 2022 she was called to collaborate with the Foundation La biennale di Venezia 2022 Teatro as conductor (Don Giovanni Mozart) In her future projects, the execution of Germaine and Leon,theatrical opera in 3 acts by Eric Leonard for which MariaLuisa composed the music. Season 2025 Maria Luisa is guest director of the Rio de Janeiro Symphony Orchestra (in collaboration with the Italian Embassy). Maria Luisa is the artistic and musical director of the Nuits d'Été au Palais Gallien Festival which takes place in Bordeaux on July .
