The talent bridge
AFAM institutions and Conservatories support emerging talents not only during their academic journey, but also in their transition into the world of work through structured placement services. These services are designed to bridge education and professional opportunities, fostering connections with the creative and cultural sectors.
We spoke with the “Vecchi-Tonelli” Conservatory of Music to learn more about its placement service, the opportunities it offers, and how it supports students in building their professional paths.
What placement strategies or programmes are you implementing to retain and valorise academic talents?
The Conservatory of Modena has been the first institution in Italy in the AFAM sector (Higher Artistic and Music Education) to implement, in a systemic way, specific and targeted actions for the retention and valorisation of musical talents. This became possible through participation in a call launched by the Emilia-Romagna Region (Regional Council Resolution no. 846 of 20/05/2024).
The resulting project introduced an online platform called “Palcoscenico”, designed for active placement and dedicated to second-level graduates under 30. The platform also brings together cultural organisations, music production bodies, cultural associations, orchestras and private entities, effectively representing market demand. Within the platform, an active community fosters a lively exchange of experiences, content, videos and musical productions — visible to commissioners looking for young talent. The national network being built has begun to grow organically, giving voice to musicians from across Italy. A team of professionals manages the platform, providing mentoring to members and encouraging music organisations to promote concrete opportunities for young talents.
What types of placement and career services does your institution offer to students and graduates? Are specific services provided for international students or students coming from other regions, particularly in terms of welcome, integration and academic–professional orientation?
In addition to the Palcoscenico platform, the Conservatory offers specific calls for funded scholarships of 150 hours, reserved for students and covering areas such as music management, press office, production organisation, library support and instrumental collaboration. Graduates can also access numerous internships and masterclasses with leading musicians and professionals. Through major international projects (Polimnia, Proben, EduNext), the Conservatory has built an extensive network of collaborations with graduates and young musicians, focused on professional specialisation and employment.
How does your Institution foster the development of professional, artistic and transversal skills through placement-related activities?
Transversal skills are developed throughout the training pathway via workshops and dedicated initiatives. One active example is the Proben project, where a multidisciplinary team of experts and artists supports musicians aged 19 to 25 in navigating the early stages of their professional career, with guidance on: research into risk and protective factors in academic contexts; targeted counselling for traditional, AFAM and online universities; and training events including conferences, seminars and workshops.
Another initiative, “Innovazione Classica”, runs across 11 sessions and equips students with essential communication and marketing tools — from personal branding and social media strategy, to media relations, effective CVs, podcasting, and building international networks. The Palcoscenico Alumni project further connects individual musicians, ensembles and chamber groups with companies and music production bodies. Career days and contests have already been organised in collaboration with professionals and companies to foster mutual opportunities and build an ethical music job market.
Which tools and communication channels does your institution mainly use to promote placement opportunities and career-related activities?
The activities and opportunities offered by Palcoscenico Alumni (palcoscenicoalumni.com) are supported by dedicated Instagram and Facebook channels, used to promote events such as career days, matching sessions and contests linked to paid concert opportunities. The platform itself has effectively evolved beyond a generic LinkedIn-style tool, incorporating internal community features and music content sharing. The Conservatory’s institutional website and affiliated sites further amplify all training and project opportunities.
How does your Institution collaborate with local stakeholders to facilitate internships, traineeships and professional opportunities for students and graduates?
The cultural and musical ecosystem is no longer purely local or regional. Through Palcoscenico, it is now possible to use the platform as a connector between all Italian conservatories, bridging supply and demand in the artistic and music labour market. The network is steadily growing, attracting new members and cultural actors, and the first concert seasons resulting from contests and selections among conservatory graduates are already being planned. In Modena, further synergies exist with other initiatives such as Talenti@MO, run by the Municipality of Modena together with UniMoRe, which operates on complementary levels.
ALL NEWS
