Cesare Chiacchiaretta Born in Chieti, Cesare Chiacchiaretta devoted himself to the study of the accordion at a very young age, later taking up the bandoneon. He studied under Claudio Calista at the Music Academy of Pescara, graduating with distinction at the Niccolò Piccinni Conservatory of Bari in 1995. He subsequently perfected his skills under distinguished masters, including Max and Christiane Bonnay, Vladimir Zubitsky and Mogens Ellegaard. Cesare Chiacchiaretta has performed for the most prestigious concert institutions in Italy and abroad both as a soloist and in several chamber music ensembles. In 2005 he made his début at the Great Hall of the St Petersburg Academic Philarmonic. He has been awarded many prizes at important national and international competitions, and in 1993 won the first prize at the Città di Castelfi dardo international competition. In 1991 he was chosen to be the only Italian representative at the annual World Accordion Championships (International Confederation of Accordionists) organised by UNESCO. He is currently an accordion teacher at the Arrigo Boito Conservatory in Parma. In 1993 he was invited to represent Italy at the 43rd Accordion World Trophy in Setubal, Portugal. He has collaborated with distinguished musicians and actors in varied repertoire and has been a member of the accordion quartet Accord’Ance since its formation. He has recorded for many radio and television broadcasters in Italy and abroad.