Our CEO welcome

Welcome to the Accademia dell'Opera Italiana. Here, we are committed to shaping the future of opera by nurturing young artists through an exceptional blend of traditional training and modern insights. Our faculty includes some of the most respected names from leading opera houses, guiding students with a shared passion for artistic excellence. Supported by strategic expertise, we offer a thoughtful approach that extends beyond the stage, fostering a community where artistry and innovation thrive together.

Massimo Modoni,

CEO & Funder Accademia dell’Opera Italiana

Hughes&Modoni's artists director, Irish pianist Brian Hughes graduated with Distinction in 2020 from the Royal College of Music in London with a Master of Performance in Collaborative Piano, as a Kenneth and Violet Scott Scholar. He studied piano with Simon Lepper, Roger Vignoles and Danny Driver, and improvisation with Sophie Veronique Chaufer Chaplin.
Venues he has performed in as an accompanist across London include the Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, Princess Alexandra Hall at the Royal Over-Seas League and recitals in churches such as St. Marylebone, St. James’ Sussex Gardens, St. George’s Hanover Square and St. Mary’s Battersea. He also performed at the Leeds Lieder Festival in 2019 as a Young Artist alongside duo partner Leilani Barratt, and has performed at the Oxford Lieder Festival in the same year as part of a lecture recital on the songs of Clara Schumann.
In Ireland, Brian performed as an orchestral pianist with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra in many of the major concert venues on the island: The National Concert Hall and Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin, and the Ulster Hall and Waterfront Hall in Belfast. In Cork, where Brian completed his undergraduate studies between 2011 and 2015, he performed in Cork City Hall, Cork Opera House and the Curtis Auditorium in the Cork School of Music.
Brian was the musical director and arranger/composer for a number of new projects in the last few years. The musical The Ballad of the Cosmo Cafe was performed in Belsize Park as part of the Insiders/Outsiders festival in 2019, in collaboration with Central School of Speech and Drama. He also worked with writer Philip Glassborow on The Unicorn and Joe at the end of 2021, and orchestrated the music for Glassborow’s Welcome To Terezin in 2022. He was the musical director for a new play with music entitled Brendan: Son of Dublin, which was performed in the Tung Auditorium as part of the Liverpool Irish Festival 2023.

Artistic Director

Massimo Modoni is a cultural entrepreneur and strategic leader with a unique blend of expertise in opera and luxury management. As the founder and CEO of the Accademia dell'Opera Italiana (AOI), he leverages his extensive background in performing arts and high-level corporate roles to propel AOI as a premier cultural institution.
Modoni’s management career spans over a decade in the luxury industry, where he held senior roles overseeing operations at iconic properties such as The Grand Hotel Tremezzo on Lake Como and San Clemente Palace in Venice. His work with world-renowned brands like St. Regis Hotels, Soho House, and Wheely has refined his relationship management skills and strategic vision. This experience translates directly into his leadership at AOI, where he builds strong partnerships, curates premium events, and drives growth initiatives.
In the artistic domain, Modoni’s training began with harp studies at the C. Pollini and Venezze Conservatoires, followed by a specialization in historical performance. His vocal training includes mentorship under Francesca Scaini, Sherman Lowe, and Alison Pearce, with further refinement from renowned Italian baritone Silvio Zanon. He has taken part in masterclasses with legends such as Mirella Freni, broadening his operatic skillset. His performance history includes roles across Europe at venues like Teatro Malibran, Staatsoper Stuttgart, and Accademia Chigiana.
At AOI, Modoni has assembled a distinguished faculty whose members come from elite institutions such as Teatro alla Scala, Teatro La Fenice, the Royal Opera House, and Staatsoper Stuttgart. The instructors bring their high-level expertise from prestigious opera houses, enriching the Accademia's training programs and attracting top-tier students from Europe’s leading conservatoires. Under his direction, AOI’s programs feature world-class mentorship and public performances, supporting young artists as they transition from training to professional stages.
Blending his operatic expertise and business acumen, Massimo Modoni drives AOI’s mission to promote Italian opera globally while establishing the Accademia as a leader in cultural education.