AUF’s Upcoming Annual Conference Allows Students' Visions to Come to Life 

Creativity will be liberated through AUF’s upcoming annual conference on December 6 and 7. Students and the public will be given the opportunity to submit an original proposal to showcase at the event; this abstract will be based on Giacomo Puccini, a legacy in the arts.

Every year for the conference, AUF pairs with Stony Brook University in upstate New York. The connection between AUF and Stony Brook's Italian Studies Department has grown significantly, and also with the school at large.

The conference is meant to challenge the students to really delve into the works of Puccini, creating something truly profound and rewarding. Additionally, the goal of each annual conference between Stony Brook and AUF is meant to bridge the gap between Italy and the United States. This tie between the two countries is crucial.

The conference was originally bridged together by Mario Mignone, a significant scholar from Stony Brook University. On the AUF side, Fabio Binarelli and Sofia Galli are the curators of the thirteenth annual conference.

Both professors are very fond of Mignone, and mention his importance to the university and the connection between AUF and the United States. Binarelli mentions that his involvement and friendship are remembered through the conference each year.

Dr. Andrea Fedi, a professor from Stony Brook University will be in attendance at the conference as the main connection between the two universities. He is in charge of Italian Studies at Stony Brook and will be contributing to the conference as well, showing the strong partnership between universities. Significant scholars along with musicians will also be attending the event, whose names have not been released yet.

“Last year I taught a creative writing course and my students were participating in the conference, and the level of the presentations they were able to deliver was magnificent,” said Galli.

The conference includes different humanities courses, including psychology, theater and opera, linguistics, and communications. Galli also points out the importance of perspective and elaboration on connecting subjects; how one topic such as Puccini can be viewed in a multitude of different lenses. These students are expected to research the topic, pick a specific panel, and present to an audience. This real-world, experiential learning opportunity is anticipated to have a high level of execution.

“This year we had a class of opera singers,” said Galli. “It was the moment to shine, so obviously we are going to invite students who are studying opera.” Given how much theater is a visual and musical representation of a story, students involved in visual communications will be encouraged to participate in this year's conference as well.

The organization of the conference will need student contribution. For example, students studying public relations will have the opportunity to advertise the conference. Students studying film and video-making will be covering the conference. And finally, students studying culinary and event planning will be greeting guests and making meals for the event.

Each concept or panel can be taken in very different ways by each student, such as literature students presenting an idea on the cultural importance of Puccini. “Students can have very different backgrounds but we still believe they can find common ground to talk about Puccini,” Binarelli added.

Like many, Galli and Binarelli have a profound appreciation for the arts, leading to the decision of Giacomo Puccini's legacy being the theme of this year's conference. Moreover, the theme of Puccini was chosen because of his connection with the United States.

Puccini was invited to the Metropolitan Opera in NYC to oversee his opera’s, Madam Butterfly and Manon Lescaut. This was in 1907. Puccini was given a hefty amount of money to come across seas. According to the New York Times, upon his arrival to New York, he was quickly taken to the Met where he watched the performance in a box seat.

A reporter from the NYT wrote, “he stood very much embarrassed, and the applause was deafening.”

Puccini spent time in New York, and gained connection with the United States through his opera compositions. He is widely recognized as one of the most successful Italian opera composers, and has a strong and important hold on Italian history to this day. Exploring and conceptualizing ideas about Puccini while sharing it with Florence’s community is undeniably an experience that is invaluable for students.

Humanities encompasses a wide variety of genres and academics, and in many universities these topics, such as music theater and opera, can be overlooked or inadequately discussed. This year's conference aims to shine a light on these topics, and educate students on the history of these topics as well.

Students with original ideas or concept presentations should check out the conference’s Call For Papers, or reach out to conferences@auf-florence.org for more information.