Menura Vocal Ensemble

Choir presentation

Menura Vocal Ensemble is a young women’s choir whose repertoire ranges from classical polyphony to pop, jazz, and ethnic music.

The female choristers come from vocal workshops in schools offered and led by the cultural association “Sesto in Canto” at G. Cavalcanti Middle School and P. Calamandrei High School in the municipality of Sesto Fiorentino.

Menura Vocal Ensemble was founded in 2014 with the support of the association.

The choir has been directed since its inception by Maestro Edoardo Materassi, who also handles the arrangements.

In 2015, the choir was included in the regional youth choir project, in collaboration with Fe.N.I.A.R.Co and the “Cori della Toscana” Association, performing at EXPO 2015 in Milan.

Awards & distinctions

The ensemble has received, among other awards, first prize at the 2017 ‘Florence International Choir Festival Michelangelo’ international competition and first prize at the ‘Florence World Choir Festival’.

In 2018, the choir was invited to Berlin for a tour with the G.F. Handel Youth Orchestra, which was subsequently hosted by the choristers in Italy.

In May 2019, the choir joined the project ‘Io nel pensier mi fingo’ organized by Sauro Albisani, participating in the event dedicated to Dino Campana and performing pieces composed by Andrea Portera.

In 2022, the ensemble participated in the G.P. Voci d’Italia national competition.

THE CHOIR DIRECTOR: Edoardo Materassi

Edoardo Materassi is a guitarist, composer, arranger, and choir director.

He trained in guitar with maestros such as Flavio Cucchi, Nuccio D’Angelo, and Lucio Gammarota. He then devoted himself to composition, studying with maestros such as Kamran Khacheh, Claudio Boncompagni, and Leonardo Abatangelo.

He directs the choirs: Animae Voces, Mulieris Voces, Sesto In Canto, the youth choir Menura Vocal Ensemble, the children’s choir Na’Ara Vocal Ensemble, and others. Over the years, he has received awards at various national and international competitions: first prize at the 2016 “Coro Più” competition for the Animae Voces choir, first prize at the “Lucrezia One Voice” competition for the Na’Ara Vocal Ensemble choir, and others; he has also recorded numerous CDs.

Awards & distinctions

He has collaborated with musicians and actors such as Fay Napon, Francesco Buzzurro, Claudia Bombardella, Alessandro Lanzoni, Peter Tiboris (Carnegie Hall in New York), Nima Keshavarzi, Tony Backhouse, Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina, and Orchestra “La Filharmonie”.

Since 2017, he has collaborated with the Australian association ‘Create Escape’ as an instructor in various vocal workshops in Italy and abroad.

With the Associazione Cori della Toscana, he organizes the annual seminar “A Tutto Coro Sing Learn and Share” with instructors such as Basilio Astulez, Dominique Tille, Panda Van Proosdje, and Carlo Pavese.

Direction: Edoardo Materassi

Italy

Florence

listen

Would you like to participate with your choir in our festivals? Go on tour in Europe? Submit your application!

Menura Vocal Ensemble

Choir presentation

Menura Vocal Ensemble is a young women’s choir whose repertoire ranges from classical polyphony to pop, jazz, and ethnic music.

The female choristers come from vocal workshops in schools offered and led by the cultural association “Sesto in Canto” at G. Cavalcanti Middle School and P. Calamandrei High School in the municipality of Sesto Fiorentino.

Menura Vocal Ensemble was founded in 2014 with the support of the association.

The choir has been directed since its inception by Maestro Edoardo Materassi, who also handles the arrangements.

In 2015, the choir was included in the regional youth choir project, in collaboration with Fe.N.I.A.R.Co and the “Cori della Toscana” Association, performing at EXPO 2015 in Milan.

Awards & distinctions

The ensemble has received, among other awards, first prize at the 2017 ‘Florence International Choir Festival Michelangelo’ international competition and first prize at the ‘Florence World Choir Festival’.

In 2018, the choir was invited to Berlin for a tour with the G.F. Handel Youth Orchestra, which was subsequently hosted by the choristers in Italy.

In May 2019, the choir joined the project ‘Io nel pensier mi fingo’ organized by Sauro Albisani, participating in the event dedicated to Dino Campana and performing pieces composed by Andrea Portera.

In 2022, the ensemble participated in the G.P. Voci d’Italia national competition.

THE CHOIR DIRECTOR: Edoardo Materassi

Edoardo Materassi is a guitarist, composer, arranger, and choir director.

He trained in guitar with maestros such as Flavio Cucchi, Nuccio D’Angelo, and Lucio Gammarota. He then devoted himself to composition, studying with maestros such as Kamran Khacheh, Claudio Boncompagni, and Leonardo Abatangelo.

He directs the choirs: Animae Voces, Mulieris Voces, Sesto In Canto, the youth choir Menura Vocal Ensemble, the children’s choir Na’Ara Vocal Ensemble, and others. Over the years, he has received awards at various national and international competitions: first prize at the 2016 “Coro Più” competition for the Animae Voces choir, first prize at the “Lucrezia One Voice” competition for the Na’Ara Vocal Ensemble choir, and others; he has also recorded numerous CDs.

Awards & distinctions

He has collaborated with musicians and actors such as Fay Napon, Francesco Buzzurro, Claudia Bombardella, Alessandro Lanzoni, Peter Tiboris (Carnegie Hall in New York), Nima Keshavarzi, Tony Backhouse, Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina, and Orchestra “La Filharmonie”.

Since 2017, he has collaborated with the Australian association ‘Create Escape’ as an instructor in various vocal workshops in Italy and abroad.

With the Associazione Cori della Toscana, he organizes the annual seminar “A Tutto Coro Sing Learn and Share” with instructors such as Basilio Astulez, Dominique Tille, Panda Van Proosdje, and Carlo Pavese.

Direction: Edoardo Materassi

Italy

Florence

listen

listen

Would you like to participate with your choir in our festivals? Go on tour in Europe? Submit your application!