What AERCO is
Under the name AERCIP - Associazione Emiliano Romagnola Cori di Ispirazione Popolare - on May 16, 1971, a small group of choirs from Emilia-Romagna (Leone and Stelutis from Bologna, Monte Toccacielo from Porretta Terme (BO), Giuseppe Verdi from Argenta (FE), Valpadana from Casumaro (FE), and Val Dolo from Toano (RE), gave birth to the first regional association, formed by choral ensembles, founded in Italy. A few years later, also thanks to the entry of some polyphonic choirs, the association permanently acquired the name AERCO: Associazione Emiliano-Romagnola Cori.
The founders then set themselves the goal of finding a moment of collaboration to spread amateur musical associationism, to improve with corsual initiatives the technical preparation of conductors, to support the activity of choirs by creating opportunities for concerts and musical meetings in order to facilitate musical practice among members, and finally to contribute to strengthening musical research in the region, both in the polyphonic and ethnophonic fields. Purposes that still form the basis of the association's mission.
The most important projects implemented are the Regional Festival Voci nei Chiostri (www.vocineichiostri.it), World Choral Day (extended to all the provinces of the Region), and the Festival Di Cori un altro Po (www.dicoriunaltropo.it). At provincial level, we would like to mention the International Choral Festival CantaBO (www.cantabo.it), Cori@Mo (for choirs from Modena), Soli Deo Gloria (for choirs from Reggio Emilia), the Festival dei Cori Piacentini (for choirs from Piacenza), Arte e Musica (for choirs from Rimini) are worth mentioning. In addition, choral festivals on the occasion of Christmas are organized at the provincial level.
AERCO is present in the educational and didactic field for choristers and conductors with a series of master classes and stable courses throughout the region. Every two years it also promotes an International Competition for Choir Directors dedicated to Romano Gandolfi (www.choralconductorcompetition.eu), a Festival dedicated to religious music of all denominations, Spiritus, and two International Choral Composition Competitions, one of them exclusively dedicated to youth repertoire, Corinfesta (www.corinfesta.it). Other flagship projects include the Youth Choir of Emilia-Romagna (www.corogiovaniledellemiliaromagna.it), the Regional Choir of Emilia-Romagna (www.cororegionaledellemiliaromagna.it) and the Schola Gregoriana Ecce established at the famous Pomposa Abbey (FE), site of the monk Guido d'Arezzo. Finally, AERCO is present with publishing projects such as its official magazine FARCORO (www.farcoro.it) and related Quaderni. AERCO also has its own 'radio' station, called CHORALNEWS, organized in the form of podcasts. Of particular relevance and importance for its educational functions is the AERCO-Academy Choral Academy (www.aerco.academy)established at the Casa della Musica in Parma. For all detailed info you can visit AERCO's main website.
Email: ufficio@aerco.emr.it
Current positions and duties
PRESIDENT - Andrea Angelini
Official AERCO representation, delegate to the FENIARCO board of directors, chairman of the board of directors and assembly, AERCO Next Steps project manager, assistant to the secretary for administrative and economic matters.
SECRETARY
The Regional Secretary, appointed by the Executive Board, maintains liaison between the members and the Association and promotes organizational initiatives in the spirit of the programs approved by the General Assembly and the directions of the Executive Board.
VICE-PRESIDENT - Gabriella Corsaro
Coadjutor of the President, Delegate for the Regional Youth Choir and for the Interregional Festival ‘Fiumi di Voici’.
AERCO PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR - Silvia Perucchetti
Managing Editor of FARCORO and QUADERNI DI FARCORO, Coordinator of AERCO's printed and digital publications.
DIRECTOR OF AERCO ARTISTIC COMMISSION - Luca Buzzavi
Responsible for the artistic programming of the Association.
AERCO General Manager
Mirco Tugnolo
Ensures the conduct of AERCO operations. Establishes the strategy for the development of cultural services in the AERCO area of operation. Administers the internal production, human resources and administration resources
AERCO WEB MANAGER - PR Valentina Micciancio
Update of the general area of the AERCO website, collaboration with associated choirs for the updating of the pages dedicated to the choirs, relations with FENIARCO for questions related to the website, responsible for the AERCO INTRANET.
Study and design of graphic material, press office, Public relation, fundraising.
SEGRETARIAT MANAGER - Gian Marco Grimandi
Management of associated choirs, insurance management, journal management, drafting administrative documents, managing headquarter (rent, utilities, cleaning), sending information and newsletters, drafting board documents and minutes.