Sulmona will host the MEMECOxAPME International Conference 2026 from July 14 to 16, gathering global educators, researchers, and artists to discuss music education under the theme “Sharing Voices, Shaping Futures.” According to Arti e Spettacolo, this event marks the first APME edition held in a Mediterranean country and is promoted by the Mediterranean Music Education Committee (MEMECO).
Stefano Marchese, MEMECO president and Berklee College of Music faculty member, stated the conference aims to create a space for dialogue between cultures and educational practices to build the future of music education, the report said. The Andrea Bocelli Foundation is scheduled to deliver the keynote address on the opening day.
Dr. Rhoda Bernard of Berklee College of Music will present on accessible music education on July 15, emphasizing the importance of including people with disabilities in musical learning, Arti e Spettacolo reported. Other confirmed international guests include Simone Pilon, executive director of Berklee Valencia, and Giovanni Vacca from the University of Rome Tre.
The program features peer-reviewed workshops, panels, and lecture-performances conducted in both Italian and English. The publication noted that the event offers significant strategic value for the territory by inserting Sulmona and the Abruzzo region into a global network of cultural and educational exchange.
For more information, visit artiespettacolo.it.