Aurora’s story

The violin has been Aurora's passion since she was a little girl. She began her Trinity College London journey at the age of 5, taking violin exams from Initial Grade to Grade 8, always achieving Distinction.

Aurora is now 15 years old, attending the Liceo Classico in Acireale and the academic triennium at the “V. Bellini” Conservatory in Catania. While she hasn’t yet decided whether to pursue a career as a concert violinist, her passion drives her to perform as a soloist accompanied by talented musicians and orchestras from Italy and around the world.

Despite her young age, Aurora has already won numerous national and international competitions and gained significant artistic experience. She has performed at the Ljubljana Festival in Slovenia, the Tallinn Festival in Estonia, and the Bellini Festival in Catania, playing as a soloist at the prestigious Teatro Massimo Bellini.

Aurora with Wenzel Fuchs, principal clarinetist of the Berliner Philharmoniker, with whom she had the honor of performing.

“I’m a musician’s daughter: both my parents are musicians, and they passed on their passion for music to me, which has always been a part of my life. My father was the first in Sicily to organize a Trinity College London music exam session and introduced me to these certifications.”

“Trinity offers a fascinating exam-focused pathway that requires preparation from technical, musical, and interpretative perspectives. It’s well-structured, intertwining three elements (instrumental, technical and Music Theory), enabling students to achieve an excellent performance level. It’s also valuable linguistically, as it allows you to learn musical terminology in English and interact with examiners exclusively in that language.”

Thanks to Trinity’s music pathway, Aurora had the opportunity to explore a vast repertoire, including modern and contemporary violin music. With Trinity’s Syllabus programs, she excelled in her entrance exams at the Catania Conservatory, ranking first for violin, and passed the audition to join the Symphony Orchestra of the same Conservatory.

“In the May 2024 session, I achieved the LTCL Diploma with Distinction, performing Mozart’s Concerto No. 3 in G Major, Camille Saint-Saëns’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28, and Pablo de Sarasate’s Introduction and Tarantella, Op. 43. It was an intense and meaningful experience, not only for the level of proficiency required but also for the exam format, which was a genuine recital—except, instead of an audience, I performed for the panel, who listened attentively but created no pressure or tension.”

“Over the years, I’ve greatly appreciated the evaluation process by Trinity’s examiners, who are highly skilled musicians with the ability to put candidates at ease before the performance. Their assessments are objective, using precise and clear criteria independent of the candidate’s background, age, or musical origins. They evaluate knowledge, technical ability, and interpretative skills, capturing the essential aspects of the candidate’s journey. The final reports have always helped me identify my strengths and what I needed to improve, providing me with a methodological approach that will benefit me throughout my life.”

“The violin is an incredibly challenging yet captivating instrument. Hearing its sound in all its nuances is deeply moving, and playing it allows me to collaborate with amazing musicians, ensembles, and orchestras. It has also given me the opportunity to travel extensively, sharing my love for music around the world.”

Thanks to Trinity’s music pathway, I had the opportunity to explore a vast repertoire and delve into modern and contemporary violin music. With the programs outlined in Trinity's Syllabuses, I successfully excelled in the entrance exams for the Catania Conservatory.