Descrizione
The Tito Schipa Conservatory of Music in Lecce was originally established as the Liceo Musicale Salentino, with its statute approved by the Prefect of Lecce under decree no. 24494 on November 21, 1933. By Royal Decree no. 1993 of October 12, 1939 (published in the Official Gazette no. 11 on January 15, 1940), the Liceo Musicale Salentino was officially recognized as equivalent to the conservatories of music, with effect from October 16, 1939. Later, by Law no. 663 of August 8, 1977 (published in the Official Gazette no. 241 on September 5, 1977), the Liceo Musicale Pareggiato “T. Schipa” was transformed into a state conservatory of music, effective from October 1, 1970.
In accordance with Article 1‑quinquies of Legislative Decree no. 7 of January 31, 2005, converted with modifications by Law no. 43 of March 31, 2005, the Istituto Musicale Pareggiato of Ceglie Messapica (BR) was incorporated as a branch campus of the Tito Schipa Conservatory of Music in Lecce, effective from the academic year 2005/2006.
The Tito Schipa Conservatory in Lecce is one of the leading music institutions in Southern Italy, hosting approximately 800 students and 130 faculty members engaged in all areas of musical practice and theory. The Conservatory is named after Tito Schipa, the celebrated lyric tenor who financially supported the foundation of the institution in the 1930s.
To promote the various facets of vocal tradition, the Conservatory offers specialist courses for opera singers, as well as training for performers in Renaissance and Baroque repertoire, modern singing, and jazz.
The Conservatory maintains a Symphony Orchestra, a Wind Orchestra, and various vocal and instrumental ensembles. Baroque music and the rich band tradition of the Salento region are central to the Conservatory’s activities, which aim to preserve and cultivate these important cultural expressions. The Wind Orchestra represents one of the institution’s pinnacles of excellence in both musical training and recording production, alongside other classical, jazz, and pop-rock groups that perform in festivals across Italy and abroad.
The academic offering comprises thirty-two programs at the First and Second Level Academic Cycles. Additionally, the Conservatory provides Pre-Academic Training Courses and Preparatory AFAM Courses. Particularly innovative are the programs in Electronic Music, Traditional Music, and Sound Engineering.
The Conservatory is actively engaged in the Erasmus Project, maintaining collaborative relationships with numerous European countries. Its library houses 11,000 volumes, including 500 manuscripts. With its branch campus in Ceglie Messapica, the Conservatory operates as a networked institution, deeply rooted in the region.
Conservatory festivals and showcases are central to the artistic and social life of Puglia, a region that has made cultural promotion and hospitality its distinctive commitment. Since 2024, the Conservatory has also launched doctoral programs, further enriching its academic and research offerings.