ABF Advanced Masterclass in Songwriting
at the ABF “Franco Corelli” Academy of Music in Camerino Wednesday, May 6 to Sunday, May 10, 2026
REGISTRATION OPEN FROM February 24 to April 10, 2026
1. PROGRAM
ABF Globalab is a program that integrates academic and professional guidance courses, united by a practical-experiential methodology and a strong vocational focus. Through workshops held by ABF trainers, the program aims to empower and guide young people by promoting:
- The emergence and enhancement of the knowledge, skills, and technical and transversal abilities already possessed by participants.
- The enhancement of transversal skills, such as leadership, problem solving, self-marketing, emotional, and socio-relational skills.
- The development of new growth prospects and support for (re)placement in training and/or work.
- The overall empowerment of young people through self-narration, self-reflection, and the ability to project themselves into the future with awareness and confidence.
The program promotes a collaborative, cooperative approach based on the principle of “learning by doing” and on participants’ active involvement in both community life and the development of concrete projects. In this way, ABF Globalab represents a space where learning, creativity, and inclusion converge to foster the personal, professional, and community growth of young people through academic, vocational, and professional guidance activities that allow individual and collective talents to emerge and be valued.
Within the framework of the ABF Globalab program, ABF Higher Education projects are offered to musicians, opera singers, and performers of all nationalities aged 16 to 35. Each Masterclass welcomes talents selected on the basis of socioeconomic criteria and solid preparation in the specific musical repertoire. The program takes place at the ABF “Franco Corelli” Music Academy in Camerino, the third reconstruction project by the Andrea Bocelli Foundation in the crater area after the 2016 earthquake, a symbol of resilience and commitment to training artists, while contributing to the cultural and social rebirth of the local community.
2. PROJECT
The Advanced Masterclass in Songwriting offers an intensive training course for singer-songwriters, authors, and producers, led by artist Giovanni Caccamo and pianist and composer Alessio Nelli, with the participation of music producer Francesco Pisapia and the qualified ABF team. The program combines theory and practice, with a focus on music composition and the music business. Participants will explore creative writing as a means of personal expression and acquire fundamental transferable skills such as emotion management, effective communication, and self-marketing. The goal is to foster professional and personal growth, preparing young artists to inhabit the music scene. The ultimate goal of the project is to create an original song during a group session and record the demo in the studios of the ABF “Franco Corelli” Academy in Camerino.
3. OBJIECTIVES
- Connection with the job market: identifying the skills required in the music industry and facilitating dialogue between institutions and aspiring artists.
- Collaborative learning environment: promoting the sharing of experiences and improving the dynamics of trust between teachers and students.
- Personal and professional growth: offering practical and educational experiences that contribute to the development of artistic and entrepreneurial skills.
4. TIMELINE AND FORMAT OF THE MASTERCLASS
The Songwriting Masterclass will be held in a residential format in Camerino at the ABF “Franco Corelli” Music Academy, from Wednesday, May 6, to Sunday, May 10, 2026:
- Arrival: Wednesday, May 6, 2026
- Teaching activities (individual and group sessions): Thursday, May 7 to Saturday, May 9
- Departure: Sunday, May 10
The days will follow an integrated approach structured as follows:
- Listening sessions (live or via media) and constructive feedback to allow students to present their musical creations in a dedicated environment, receiving qualified feedback and enhancing their skills.
- Collective writing sessions to stimulate collaboration and synergy among participants, refining their compositional skills.
- Recording studio work sessions, to offer participants the opportunity to gain practical experience in the recording process, providing them with the skills necessary to work in the context of contemporary music production.
- The start of a path based on the acquisition of transversal skills through the enhancement of interpretative abilities in live performance and the strengthening of communication, social, and emotional skills (e.g., self-marketing, reading the context, managing stress and stage impact, emerging and strengthening creative thinking, effective communication and knowing how to express oneself, active listening, empathy, emotional intelligence).
Participation is mandatory throughout the initiative.
Accommodation for the entire week will be fully covered by the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, which will provide participants with meals and lodging and cover travel expenses to and from the Masterclass venue within Italy.
5. TARGET AUDIENCE
The Masterclass will be held in Italian and is open to a maximum of 12 participants: 3 music producers and 9 authors – whether songwriters or composers – aged 18-35.
You can participate as an individual, NOT as a group.
The Andrea Bocelli Foundation reserves the right to reopen the submission deadline if the available resources are not fully allocated; to allocate additional funding to the call for applications; to close the call early; and to amend its timeline.
6. EVALUATION COMMITTEE
Applications will be reviewed and selected by the Artistic Director in collaboration with ABF’s expert staff.
The selection process will follow principles of impartiality, transparency, and merit, ensuring access to a broad and highly qualified pool of emerging talent. The Committee will carry out its evaluation in April 2026, and selected candidates will be notified directly using the contact details provided in their application.
7. HOW TO APPLY AND DEADLINE FORR APPLICATIONS
To participate in the call for applications, please submit:
- A letter of motivation
- Artistic CV
- Link to Spotify profile (if available)
- Photocopy of a valid ID
- Two videos documenting the performance of two songs of your own composition, meeting the following requirements:
- They may be unpublished and, therefore, the exclusive intellectual property of the candidate; alternatively, they may have been previously produced, h r marketed or published (including on social media channels).
- Each video must show the complete performance of each chosen song, with a maximum duration of 5 minutes (in the case of producers only, a recording of the song is sufficient, but must still be attached to the application)
- Each video must include a brief presentation of the candidate and the chosen song (self-tape format), specifying which category they belong to (singer-songwriter, author, or producer).
- Musical accompaniment: songs may be performed with musical accompaniment (backing track) or a cappella (without backing track). The choice of accompaniment is at the discretion of the candidate, provided that the performance is clear and well interpreted.
- Technical quality: videos must be recorded in high quality, with good visibility and audio clarity. It is advisable to avoid videos recorded in noisy or poorly lit environments.
- Videos may be attached either as files or as private viewing links.
The application (containing the above components) must be sent to the email address abfmasterclass@andreabocellifoundation.org with the following subject line:
Songwriting Application – ABF Masterclass 2026 Edition”
PLEASE NOTE: applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, 10 April 2026. Any submissions received after this date will not be considered.
8. INFORMATION AND CLARIFICATIONS
Any requests for information and clarifications regarding this call for applications should be sent to the following email address:abfmasterclass@andreabocellifoundation.org
9. DATA PROCESSING
Pursuant to Article 13 of Legislative Decree No. 196/2003 and Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR), the personal data collected by the Andrea Bocelli Foundation will be processed for the purposes related to this procedure and used exclusively for such purposes, in compliance with applicable legislation. The provision of personal data is mandatory; failure to provide it will make it impossible to proceed with the evaluation and any subsequent actions. Any processing for additional or different purposes will be subject to the data subject’s specific consent.
The data will be stored and processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security and confidentiality, through suitable technical and organisational measures designed to minimise the risks of destruction or loss, including accidental loss, unauthorised access, or processing that is unlawful or inconsistent with the purposes for which the data were collected.
Dr. Laura Biancalani,
ABF CEO
