WHY PIANO IS THE KING
OF INSTRUMENTS
The piano poses a vast tonal range and versatility which covers all the instruments in the orchestra. The fact that the piano can create every note of every instrument in ...
As director, Ms. Munné is adept at helping parents and students identify their goals and find the path that will allow them to express themselves musically.
She has wide experience teaching students across a variety of ages, talents and backgrounds. Her specialty is also teaching the very young.
In addition to her teaching and role as Belle Arti director, Ms. Munné designed Belle Arti’s Musical Aurora® program for children between the ages of two to five. This unique program is designed to awaken the full intellectual potential of these very young students while teaching them the fundamentals of music.
For more than ten years this program has proven the impact learning the language of music has on children as young as 2 years old, and is designed to bridge the gap between a Mommy and Me class and learning how to play an instrument. For more information feel free to read more about our Musical Aurora® program.
Claudette’s teaching approach is informed by her studies and knowledge that comes from her vast experience teaching and serving students across a variety of ages, talents and backgrounds for more than two decades.
About Claudette Munne’s Education
Born in Santo Domingo, and of European heritage, she began piano studies at the age of four at the “Academia Dominicana De Música.” During her studies in the Dominican Republic, Ms. Munné received several awards and recognition from National competitions for her strong artistic presence and extraordinary ability and talent as a pianist. Along with her music studies, Ms. Munné obtained a Bachelor Degree in Business from the “Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra” in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Following that, she received a Bachelor and a Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City,
About Ms. Munne’s Education Heritage
In the Dominican Republic, Ms. Munne studied with:
Edith Hernandez de Windt whose musical education heritage comes from the great Spanish composer Enrique Granados.
Milagros Beras whose musical heritage comes from Maestro Carlo Bruno, “Santa Cecilia” Music Conservatory, Rome, Italy. He was a pupil of Maestro Vincenzo Vitale, one of the greatest professors of the Neapolitan piano school.
In New York City, Ms. Munne studied with:
Marc Silverman head of the piano department at the Manhattan School of Music.
Alicia de Larrocha, a Spanish pianist, considered one of the great piano legends of the 20th century and the greatest Spanish pianist in history. Alicia de Larrocha a pupil of Frank Marshall King, who also was a student of famous spanish composer Enrique Granados.
About Claudette Munné’s Performance Career
Ms. Munné has been described as “a pianist with the personality and the facility to interpret a diversity of styles, which proves intelligence and excellence in her musical training.”
Ms. Munné has been heard in recitals and with orchestras in the United States, Europe, Caribbean and South America. In November 2005, Claudette Munné, along with her husband, Italian pianist Massimiliano Facchini, made an artistic contribution of major significance to the world's artistic legacy. This concert duo “made history premiering Merengues with two pianos at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.” She has also released a recording, “Claudette Marie Munné plays Bach, Clementi, Albéniz and Others.”
Ms. Munné has also served as a Board member of the Queens Symphony Orchestra from 2010-2018.
Claudette Munné is a director of The Belle Arti Center for the Arts in Forest Hills, NY.
“Awakening the full potential of a child’s mind through music education is my mission and therefore discovering each child's unique characteristic to then nurture and develop them until they are ready for college, is my goal. In addition, no matter what age the student starts with us, we will dedicate the time to coach parents and students on what instrument, teacher or program will best suit their needs.”
Massimiliano Facchini is a director of The Belle Arti Center for the Arts in Forest Hills, NY.
For more than 2 decades Maestro Facchini has been teaching and inspiring his students to the best they can be. His mission is to support learning for his students regardless of their ages, experience, talent, or background, while making the journey of learning to play the piano a fun experience.
He takes pride that his students have been accepted at specialized arts high schools and major conservatories in New York such as Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard School, Mannes School of Music, Peabody Conservatory, LaGuardia High School, Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, and Brooklyn College.
As a director Mr. Facchini makes sure the school operations run smoothly and efficiently, not only for parents and families, but to ensure that students and teachers can concentrate on their studies.
From one of Maestro Facchini’s former students:
“Maestro Facchini is one of the people, besides my parents, that contributed to my love for playing music. I guess you could say that music was not just my talent, it was also my spirit. Through music, it not only has strengthened me, it has served as a light in the dark.
There once was a boy who was lost, he had no idea where he was going, and was stumbling in the middle of the dark. Then out of nowhere, a person came and saw him as gifted. Because of this, he trained him to find his way, no matter the challenge. There were clear paths, and there were difficulties, but in the end, he pushed through. It’s not just the notes that make it life, it’s the experience between the student and the teacher.
Piano inspires me in many different ways. You helped me shape that inspiration by seeing the gift that I had. It has taught me that there is more meaning to life than just school work”
– Brian Lam
About Massimiliano Facchini’s Education
Massimiliano Facchini graduated Summa cum Laude from the Music Conservatory “Ottorino Respighi” in Italy under the tutelage of Maja Samargieva.
Still a student at the music conservatory, he had the privilege to also study with Maestro Rodolfo Caporali whose musical heritage comes from Frédéric Chopin.
Mr. Facchini later went on to continue his studies with Boris Block at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Karen Follingstad at the University of Akron and Jerome Lowenthal at the Juilliard School in New York City. He also studied at the Aspen Music Festival under the guidance of Ann Schein, pupil of Arthur Rubinstein.
Mr. Facchini obtained a Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance at San Diego State University (San Diego, California) under the tutelage of Karen Follingstad and he later earned a Post-Graduate Diploma at Manhattan School of Music in New York City, studying piano with Nina Svetlanova and chamber music with Isidore Cohen.
About Massimiliano Facchini’s Performance Career
Since his professional debut in 1989 at the Summer Music Festival in Bolzano, Italy, Maestro Facchini has performed throughout Europe, the United States, Caribbean and South America. His performances include:
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Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York
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Sala Sinopoli at Parco della Musica (Rome, Italy)
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The Mellow Theater in Scranton, Pennsylvania
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Auditorio Dominico Americano in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)
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Auditorio del Palacio Borgiela in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)
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Concerti del Tempietto Music Festival in Rome (Italy)
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Ibla Grand Prize in Ragusa (Italy)
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Villa San Michele Music Festival in Capri (Italy)
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Amalfi Music Festival (Italy)
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Villa Rufolo Music Festival in Ravello (Italy)
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Concerti al Cocumella Music Festival in Sorrento (Italy)
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Osimo Music Festival (Italy)
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Estati Musicali al Castello di Presule in Bolzano (Italy)
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Akademie Konzert in Salzburg (Austria)
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Guzzetta Hall in Akron, Ohio
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Smith Recital Hall in San Diego, California
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Aspen Music Festival in Colorado
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Manaus Opera House in Brazil
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The Spanish Institute in New York
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The Juilliard School
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Manhattan School of Music
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The Bronx Museum of the Arts
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Bronx Community College
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Queens Town Hall
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Brooklyn Music School
He was also featured on WQXR, classical radio station in New York City, and on WVIA, classical radio station in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Massimiliano Facchini has won numerous prizes and awards including the San Diego State University Concerto Competition, the Student Ambassadorial Scholarship Award given by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, and the Ibla Grand Prize.
He recorded a CD featuring music by D. Scarlatti, Mozart, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Lecuona. Maestro Facchini also concertizes with his wife, the Dominican pianist Claudette Munné, as “Two Soloists Together Ö¼ Four Hands Across The Sea.” “Two Souls, one great technique, exceptional phrasing, and an incredible ability to interpret the music they perform. It is a joy listening to them” (America Oggi, USA).
