It started in Parma in 2014, based on an idea by Maestro Leonardo Morini: to create a space where young people who had completed their studies could continue to grow their passion for choral singing. After conducting five school choirs in the city, Leo felt the desire to create something new—a group capable of bringing together diverse voices, experiences, and energies, united by the desire to make music together.
Thus, Cor de’ Vocali was born, initially as an amateur group that soon became a proper association, carrying on the legacy of the Parma-based choir Quod Libet and establishing the A.P.S. Cor de’ Vocali.
Since then, the choir has grown without losing what makes it special: enthusiasm, curiosity, and the joy of sharing an experience that goes far beyond singing. Today, the group brings together young choristers united by a passion for music, a desire to put themselves out there, and a willingness to tackle ever-new challenges together.
Music as a gathering space
From its earliest years, Cor de’ Vocali has been actively involved in the cultural and social life of Parma, collaborating with local associations and organizations, including the Al Portico Volunteer Association and the Compagnia In…stabile, the Cooperativa Fiorente, Fa.Ce. Parma, V.A.P.A. Parma, ANCeSCAO Parma, and the Centro Giovani Esprit of the Cooperativa Eidé, which hosts the choir’s weekly rehearsals.
For us, singing also means gathering together, building relationships, and putting music at the service of the community. Every collaboration is an opportunity to share something authentic and to discover how choral singing can bring together different people and communities.
One single voice, many musical genres
Our musical identity is built on curiosity and the freedom to explore different genres and musical styles. Our repertoire varies from rock to pop, from musicals to classical and sacred music, all the way to traditional music, with a particular fondness for a cappella arrangements.
Shaping this journey above all is Maestro Leonardo Morini, who composes most of the arrangements, created specifically to highlight the ensemble’s unique characteristics and personality. Each piece thus becomes an opportunity to experiment, seek new balances, and transform many different voices into a single cohesive sound.
This musical openness has also led us to explore unexpected territories: in 2016, we began collaborating with the gothic metal band Dark Lunacy on the album The Rain After the Snow, an experience that expanded our horizons and opened the door to new projects.
From our home stage to international festivals
Over the years, concerts, music festivals, and events have become valuable opportunities to share our music, meet other ensembles, and forge lasting friendships.
We participated in the September Choral Festival in Castelnovo ne’ Monti in 2017, the FAKS Festival in Vrsar, in Croatia, in 2017 and 2022, the Sui Sentieri del Canto festival in Monchio delle Corti in 2018, and numerous events in Emilia-Romagna and Trentino, including collaborations with the Intreccio di Valli choir, La Vallata In…Cantata, the ANIN Choir festival in Villa Lagarina, and the 14th “inCanti Corali” Festival in Vaiano in 2023.
In Parma, too, we built, concert by concert, a network of collaborations with the city’s choral and cultural groups. We participate in events such as Voci della Terra and the Festival Tanzi, and we collaborate with school choirs,particularly for Christmas concerts,as well as with local associations and organizations dedicated to promoting the region.
In 2023, we also took an important step as organizers by launching the Festival Cori tra i Colli: an opportunity to return the hospitality we’ve received over the years and bring numerous choral concerts to the province of Parma.
Finally, in 2026, we participated in the Alta Pusteria International Festival, where we had the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with choirs from diverse backgrounds. New friendships and collaborations were born, already looking toward the future, with the goal of organizing choral exchanges and continuing to spread music far and wide.
Contests and awards
Over the years, our musical journey has also brought us great satisfaction. At the Coramare Competition in Sestri Levante, after taking second place in 2019, we reached the highest honor in 2025 by winning the Grand Prize. This success was made even more special by the award given to our Maestro, who was named Best Conductor.
In 2024, we also won the award for Best Performance in the a cappella category at the Etna Cori Estate Festival in Sicily: another important recognition of our artistic journey and the passion we put into every performance.
Releases
In 2019, we released our first studio EP, #PO(P)LIFONIA, a project that reflects our passion for pop music and our search for new sounds. Five years later, on the occasion of the association’s tenth anniversary, we celebrated ten years of music and friendship with a concert at the Paganini Auditorium in Parma, which led to our first live EP: a record of the emotions shared on stage and the journey we’ve taken together. Two distinct releases that capture important moments in our history and our desire to keep growing, one voice at a time.
What now?
While our concerts and awards tell the story of our journey, the true spirit of Cor de’ Vocali lies in what happens every week, rehearsal after rehearsal: the friendship that unites us, the dedication with which we approach each song, and the energy that flows when our voices come together.
At the heart of it all is our relationship with our Maestro, “Leo”: a musical guide, but also a friend, who guides us as we grow and recognizes the unique qualities of each voice.
Today, Cor de’ Vocali is a vibrant and continuously evolving ensemble. We continue to seek new opportunities to come together, experiment, and share our passion, bringing with us everything we’ve built over the years.
Thank you to those who have accompanied us this far, to those who have listened to us grow concert after concert, and to those who have yet to discover us.
Our story continues. We look forward to seeing you at our next concert!
| Director |
| Leonardo Morini |
| Sopranos | Mezzo-Sopranos | Altos | Tenors | Basses |
| Lucia Balloni | Carolina Aimi | Chiara Acerbi | Eleonora Ampollini | Christian Amato |
| Grazia De Mitri | Teresa Calzetti | Adriana Bellanova | Lorenzo Bertolotti | Nicola Bodria |
| Francesca Pelati | Laura Gandolfi | Anna Bonomo | Pietro Larghi | Giuseppe Carcò |
| Elena Remigio | Gessica Mussi | Nuria Ferroni | Alessandro Martucci | Luigi Cavarretta |
| Teresa Paganuzzi | Nicole Galloni | Salvatore Mazzei | Guido Larghi | |
| Valentina Moia | Rocco Paganuzzi | |||
| Marija Segovic | Giorgio Maria Zinno |
| Drums |
| Luis Pezzoli |