Lifetime Achievement Award for Lina Tufano

Ceremony at the Chamber of Deputies

The award ceremony for the ''Recognition for Artistic Career and Promotion of Young Musical Talent'' was held on Thursday, March 26 at the Press Room of the Chamber of Deputies in Rome.

The prestigious award celebrates the long and significant career of the artistic director of the ''Incontri Musicali,'' the chamber music concert seasons promoted by the Walton Foundation at the evocative Giardini La Mortella on the island of Ischia.

The initiative, promoted by the Opera Commission, represented a moment of great institutional and cultural significance, bringing together representatives from the academic, musical, and institutional worlds. The recognition was awarded for ''her decades-long commitment to the dissemination of classical music, the education of new generations, and the artistic direction of important international musical institutions.''

A true Ischia native, Lina Tufano began her musical studies in Naples, where she graduated with honors in piano at a young age, earning a degree in Political Science from the University of Naples Federico II. Throughout her career, she has performed hundreds of concerts in major Italian cities, theaters, and cultural centers, establishing herself as both a solo pianist and a chamber musician alongside internationally renowned musicians.

A highly regarded principal piano teacher, she has taught at the state conservatories of Reggio Calabria, Foggia, Benevento, and Avellino. For over twenty-five years, she has curated the chamber music seasons at the Giardini La Mortella with dedication and expertise. These events take place from spring to autumn and are now a cultural hub for the island.

She was chosen by Lady Susana Walton, who entrusted her with the artistic direction of the musical calendar in 2000. A far-sighted choice: over the years, the Walton Foundation's concerts have established themselves as a prestigious launching pad for young talents on the international music scene. This path has been consolidated thanks also to the trust of its president, Alessandra Vinciguerra.

The recognition bestowed on Lina Tufano celebrates not only her artistic talent, but a life dedicated to spreading musical culture and fostering new generations. This award highlights Italian excellence worldwide and confirms the Walton Foundation as a true flagship of Ischia's cultural offerings.

Two concert seasons, directed by Lina Tufano, take place throughout the year at Giardini La Mortella in Ischia (Naples): in Spring and Autumn, the Chamber Music recitals are held every Saturday and Sunday in the Recital Hall.

In Summer, these are joined by the ''Festival for Youth Orchestras,'' with Symphonic Music concerts, held on Thursday evenings in the Greek Theater. These concerts always feature young musicians (maximum age 32), fulfilling William Walton's desire that La Mortella help young talents flourish.

The Chamber Music season is held in collaboration with:

Fiesole School of Music

Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome

Accademia Stauffer in Cremona

Windsor Festival International String Competition (UK)

Roma Keyboard Charitable Trust (UK)

These schools select their best students and send them to Ischia to perform a concert. The underlying idea behind this program (now ten years old) is that young musicians find stimulation and inspiration in the presence of a knowledgeable and attentive audience.
At the same time, their names are beginning to circulate and become known. In addition to the students selected by the schools, the William Walton Foundation and La Mortella invite the winner of the William Walton Scholarship from the Scuola di Fiesole to perform, as well as, depending on the period, winners of other prestigious music competitions.

Grandi Giardini Italiani Srl

Grandi Giardini Italiani Srl