Since 1994, Brett Leighton has combined concert performance with teaching, becoming a professor of organ, harpsichord, and chamber music at the private "Anton Bruckner" University in Linz, a position he held until 2020.In addition to his teaching activities in Linz, he has been a guest lecturer at various institutions and festivals in Zurich, Muri, Treviso, Arona, La Spezia, Baigorry, etc., and has conducted numerous masterclasses in Ponte in Valtellina, Venice, San Sebastián, Marchena, les Andelys, etc.Often serving on juries for Austrian and international competitions, he is also the author of articles in various journals concerning the performance of early keyboard music. In 1995, he founded the International Max Reger Week and in 2010, the Fiesta Española, both in Linz. He has collaborated with ensembles such as Contrapunctus, Ensemble 415, Pacific Rim, and the van Eyck Project, and regularly performs with baroque violinist Annegret Siedel.His work is documented through various radio recordings (ABC, DRS, WDR, Radio Nacional de España, etc.) and CD productions, both as a soloist and in ensembles (Coronata, Weinberg Records, Motette-Psallite, ex Libris, Musica Omnia, etc.).
Born in Veneto (Italy), after completing his musical studies at the conservatory in his hometown, studied organ, harpsichord, basso continuo, and chamber music with Jean-Claude Zehnder and Jesper Christensen at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel.A finalist and winner of international organ competitions (Lucerne, Innsbruck, Freiberg), he has performed throughout almost all of Europe, South America, and Japan.He has collaborated on the harpsichord and organ with Renè Jacobs, Andrea Marcon, Giuliano Carmignola, Roel Dieltiens, and Guido Balestracci in various opera and oratorio productions, recordings (Symphonia, Orf Alte Musik, Zig-Zag Territoires), and numerous chamber music concerts.From 1998 to 2009, he was a professor of harpsichord and basso continuo at the Hochschule in Lucerne (CH), and he currently holds the chair of organ at the Conservatory of Verona, where he organizes and directs the Organ Vespers at the Cathedral in the Verona Duomo.He is the artistic director of the international organ festival Pagine d’Organo in Treviso.
The masterclass, conducted by the two renowned Maestros, will offer participants the opportunity to play on precious instruments that have been restored to working order after many years of restoration work. The Renaissance organ of Grottaglie is the oldest existing in the region and, overall, one of the oldest.
Technical Specification Sheet
for the Organ, Grottaglie
Meantone Temperament: Principal 8’, Octave, Fifteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-Second, Twenty-Sixth, Twenty-Ninth, Flute in XV, Tremolo, Nightingales. Coupled Pedalboard (8 pedals)
Technical Specification Sheet
for the Organ, Monteiasi
Werkmeister Temperament (modified): Principal, Octave, Fifteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-Second, Flute in XII, Vox Humana, Nightingales. Coupled Pedalboard (9 pedals)
REGISTRATION AND FEES
The masterclass will take place from 2th to 6th October.
Registrations can be submitted by September 5 by sending an email to Nunzio Dello Iacovo at amjonica@gmail.com.
For contact, please call +39 340 4718818.
Please provide your personal details, contact information (email and phone), and the program you will present in free format.
The costs for participating in the masterclass are €30 (registration) + €150 (participation).
For accommodation and meals, the masterclass has an arrangement with the hotel La Tana del Lupo in Monteiasi with the following prices: single room + breakfast: €50; double room + breakfast: €60.Those who wish can have a full meal (2 dishes, side dish, water, wine, coffee) for an additional cost of €15.
CONCERTS, CERTIFICATES
OF PARTICIPATION, AWARDS
The masterclass includes the participation of students in the concluding concert, which will take place on Sunday, October 6, in Grottaglie.
Participation in the concert is free of any financial requests from the students and will be arranged according to the instructors' guidelines.Two concerts will be held by Maestros Leighton and Raschietti on both organs.
At the end of the masterclass, each active student will receive a certificate of participation.
The teachers will select one student for a concert that will be scheduled as part of the 2025 Organ Festival organized by the association.
The teachers will select one student for a concert that will be scheduled as part of the 2025 Organ Festival organized by the association.
CAR CONNECTIONS
The closest airports are Bari (BRI), 110 km. from Grottaglie and Brindisi (BDS), 40 km. To reach Grottaglie, continue by train (Trenitalia, State railway) towards
Taranto.
The two locations, Grottaglie and Monteiasi, are about 6 km apart. Regular bus services operate throughout the day for transportation between them. If needed, the association will provide car connections for travel outside of regular hours.
In case of disputes, the competent jurisdiction will be the
Court of Taranto.
