Agatha Bocedi's Harp: "Music, the Voice of Nature"

Agatha Bocedi is a bit of a Generation Z fan. Born in Reggio Emilia in 2000, she discovered the harp at age seven through the Suzuki method and fell in love with it. At eight, she entered the Parma Conservatory. The young harpist, now also a composer, has already won numerous awards. Artist in residence for the Società dei Concerti di Milano , she will perform during Mondadizza Music Week , the music festival taking place from this evening until August 5th in Mondadizza, a hamlet of Sondalo (Sondrio). Admission to all events is free.

Agatha, what does being an artist in residence mean to you? "It's an opportunity to meet and collaborate with other young musicians, build connections and friendships, and exchange ideas and inspiration to grow professionally and personally. It's an honor to be here, and I'm truly grateful."

And performing in places where nature is still so powerful? "I believe open-air concerts will be the most globally engaging for audiences because they will be able to clearly perceive the very close connection we have with music and with everything around us, as part of nature itself. I believe music, on a profound level, is precisely what touches us most deeply because it has an extremely natural and "ancestral" heart."

How much does the harp contribute to your composition, and vice versa? "Everything. No, I'm joking, I also write for other equally beautiful instruments, but I'm in love with the harp, its sound, and it comes naturally and spontaneously to me to write for my instrument, also because it's the one I know best. Of course, for requests or for studies, I also write for other instruments." The harp is an instrument primarily designed for orchestra. How do you see your future career? "Yes, that's true, but there are so many other possible avenues that would certainly be more fertile ground for a free and creative spirit like mine. Composition, research, or solo work are paths that I see more in common with, and I intend to pursue them."

And what do his parents say? "At first they were against it, but then they changed their minds because they saw that it's objectively a sustainable profession if you put in the effort and work hard. Now they support me in any decision I make."

How important is winning music awards these days? "It depends on your life and career goals. Awards are certainly a great gateway, but I know the perfect recipe for making any dream come true is this: passion, dedication, and a pinch of luck that can create the opportunity."