Paolo Petrocelli Stands Down as Director General of Cremona's Stauffer Academy

The Italian cultural manager has introduced several key innovations at the Academy

Paolo Petrocelli, an Italian cultural manager and academic, has resigned from his position as the Director General of the Stauffer Academy in Cremona. He will be relocating to the United Arab Emirates to take up a role as Head of the Dubai Opera House.

During his tenure, Petrocelli reformed several key programs run by the Stauffer Academy — with the founding of the Stauffer Center for Strings making a particularly notable impact. Petrocelli has also established relationships with high-level faculty, including artists such as Steven Isserlis, Mischa Maisky, and Viktoria Mullova.

In addition, Petrocelli introduced new and unique qualifications to the Academy, such as the Concertmaster Artist Diploma — the only program of its kind anywhere in the world.

"I am particularly grateful to the President and the Board of Directors of the Stauffer Foundation and to all Faculty members of the Stauffer Academy for the trust and support they have never failed to give me over the  last years," Petrocelli said.

"I thank all of them for having believed in an ambitious idea of growth and change and having supported a new artistic vision, based on the principles of excellence, innovation and global connections," he added. "I am fully aware that I had an extraordinary opportunity: being able to contribute to the growth of one of the most prestigious and iconic Italian music institutions in the world."

"The collaboration with Dr Petrocelli has been extremely productive and meaningful for our institution," said Alessandro Tantardini, the President of the Stauffer Foundation. “Having the opportunity to interact with a dynamic and interesting professional figure is always gratifying, especially while achieving ambitious goals along a path of growth and improvement."

"When the only guiding principle is the search for excellence and meritocracy, the results can be seen immediately after," he continued. "The collaboration with Petrocelli is a delightful example of it. Good luck to Paolo, a man of exceptional qualities, appreciated and respected all over the world."