Fondazione ICONS new member of the European Mozart Ways

Fondazione ICONS is an Italian foundation active in the field of European funded research, in particular within the Horizon2020 and Horizon Europe programmes. It is also the gateway to ICONS' cultural and philanthropic initiatives. In this area, ICONS creates and supports projects for young people to improve their skills in music, arts and humanities.

A key project in this area is Project Theresa. Theresa is a prominent international youth orchestra that focuses specifically on the classical repertoire on period instruments. Named after the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa, the orchestra was founded in 2012 at the suggestion of a group of patrons. It brings together musicians under the age of 28 who are specialising in historically informed performance practice at Europe's leading musical institutions, and accompanies them on their way to professional life.

The ICONS Foundation is based in Lodi (IT). This means that another Italian Mozart city is represented in the association. The stay in Lodi dates back to the first trip to Italy: after leaving Milan on 15 March 1770, father and son set off for Parma. Lodi was a convenient stopover on the way to Parma, and so they spent the night in the town: it was only one night, but a remarkable one, for the young Mozart composed the first three movements of his very first string quartet! Mozart was only fourteen when he composed the quartet, which was originally in three movements, but a fourth was added later, in 1773.