Whether you’re fluent in Italian or only know ciao, you will be welcomed with open arms by the IES Abroad Milan Center staff and a full range of opportunities for instrumentalists, vocalists, composers, and performance majors. In Milan, you get an education tailored specifically to your musical needs and interests. Enjoy being surrounded by some of the world’s top musicians and educators—including our Center Director, who is an active composer and music scholar whose pieces are performed worldwide!
Milan, Italy
Music: Voice, Composition & Instrumental
At a Glance
Program Dates:
- Spring 2025: January 20 - May 10
- Fall 2025: Early September - Mid December
- Spring 2026: Mid January - Mid May
Credits:
15 to 19 per Semester
Estimated Cost:
$21,913
Visa Required:
Yes
Housing:
Apartment,
Homestay,
Residence Hall
Language of Instruction:
English,
Italian
Language Prerequisites:
None
Part-Time Internship (Optional):
Included in Program Fee
About the Program
New Italy Visa Process Starting Fall 2025
The Italian Senate recently approved a Legislative Decree that will significantly impact the visa application process for students studying in Italy for more than 90 days. As of January 10, 2025, students must appear in person at their consulate for fingerprinting, making batch processing—such as IES Abroad's ACCeSS program—impossible.
However, as of February 13th, we have learned that discussions on potential modifications of the legislative decree are taking place and an update will be provided soon.
In the meantime, we are exploring interim solutions for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, including potential program length adjustments, and are closely monitoring updates. We will keep applicants, students, and school partners informed.
Fall 2025
Spring 2026
Program Dates:
Early September - Mid December
Application Deadline:
Estimated Cost:
$
21,913
Program Dates:
Mid January - Mid May
Application Deadline:
Program Advisor
Chrissy Tyndall, Kaylee Brezinski & Rachael Grochowski
Once you’ve applied for a program, one of us will be your direct point of contact. From housing to course registration and everything in between, we're here to help you prepare to study abroad. Once you’re accepted to your program, you’ll find even more detailed information about what you need to know before you depart in your Predeparture Guide. Let’s get started!
About the Destination
Why Milan?
From ancient Ambrosian chants to cutting-edge multimedia installations, Italy has always been at the forefront of musical innovation. As a music student in Milan, you have the opportunity to work with world-class musicians, soak up the local music scene, perform at a variety of venues, and attend performances.
The Student Experience
First Day in Milan
First day in Milan! From the overwhelming excitement of landing in Italy to navigating the airport and finding my way to my apartment, I share my experiences...
Program Dates
Spring 2025
Program Dates:
January 20 - May 10
Application Deadline:
Fall 2025
Program Dates:
Early September - Mid December
Application Deadline:
Spring 2026
Program Dates:
Mid January - Mid May
Application Deadline:
Academics
Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences.
You will learn from many highly qualified local instructors for both voice and instrumental performance, and composition and theory to enrich your learning experience.
You may also use concert venues for recitals and attend concerts and rehearsals of professional performance organizations, such as La Scala, Milano Classica, La Verdi Symphonic Choir and Orchestra, and Italian musical productions. In addition, we help you with instrument rentals and studio time arrangements—all rental costs will be covered by IES Abroad.
Partner Institutions
Civica Scuola Di Musica C. Abbado
The largest private music school in Italy, the Civica Scuola Di Musica C. Abbado (Civica Scuola) includes offerings in the schools of Jazz, Choral, Classical, Contemporary, and Early Music. The Scuola is well regarded for its Early Music and Music Technology programs. Take instrumental technique and performance classes and/or an English-taught Composition, Theory, or History course arranged by our music coordinator.
Courses
Create your own academic experience by selecting from the following program components.
You take 15–19 credits per semester. Language courses are taught in Italian, and all other courses are taught in English or Italian.
- English-taught IES Abroad Music courses at your proficiency level (optional, 3 credits)
- IES Abroad Italian language course (required, 4 or 6 credits)
- Individual music instruction (optional, credits vary)
- English-taught IES Abroad ensemble courses (optional, 3 credits)
- English- or Italian-taught electives or ensembles at local music institutions (optional, credits vary)
- English- or Italian-taught IES Abroad elective courses (optional, 3 credits each)
- Community-based learning placement and seminar (optional, 3 credits)
- Music-related Internship and seminar (optional, 3 credits)
To learn more about IES Abroad’s innovative theoretical and pedagogical approaches to teaching language abroad, refer to the IES Abroad MAP for Language & Intercultural Communication.
Private Instrument and Voice Instruction
Past students have studied with the following faculty/ensembles
- Bassoon - Valentino Zucchiatti, Professor, Accademia de La Scala
- Cello - Silvio Righini, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica
- Clarinet - Maurizio Longoni, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica; Luigi Magistrelli, Professor, Conservatorio “G. Verdi”, Milan; Fabrizio Meloni, First Clarinet, La Scala Philarmonic Orchestra
- Double Bass - Lutz Schumacher, La Scala and Lugano Radio Orchestras, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica; Paolo Rizzi, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica
- Flute - Paola Fre, Professor, Istituto Musicale “Vittadini”, Pavia
- French Horn - Hermes Pecchinini, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica, Conservatorio “V. Bellini”, Palermo
- Guitar - Simone Fontanelli, Professor, University of Mozarteum, Salzburg (Classical); Marco Pisoni, Professor and Director, Accademica Musicale di Brera, Milan (Classical); Riccardo Bianchi, Professor, Civici Corsi di Jazz (Jazz); Walter Muto, Student Services, IES Abroad Milano (Folk)
- Harp - Mara Galassi, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica (Baroque); Luisa Prandina, First Harp, La Scala Philarmonic Orchestra (Modern)
- Oboe - Guido Toschi, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica
- Percussion - Andrea Dulbecco, Professor, Conservatorio “G. Verdi”, Milan
- Piano - Mariagrazia Bellocchio, Professor, Istituto Superiore “G. Donizetti”, Bergamo; Silva Costanzo, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica; Angela Lazzaroni, Co-Director, Accademia Ambrosiana, Milan; Victoria Terekiev, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica; Lorenzo De Finti, Professor, Scuola Svizzera, Milan; Editor, Radio Svizzera Italiana (Jazz)
- Saxophone - Ausonio Calò, Professor, Conservatorio “N. Piccinni”, Bari; Mario Marzi, La Scala Philarmonic Orchestra, Professor, Conservatorio “G. Verdi”, Milan; Giulio Visibelli, Professor, Civici Corsi di Jazz (Jazz)
- Trombone - Fulvio Clementi, Professor, Conservatorio “G. Verdi”, Como
- Trumpet - Gabriele Cassone, Professor, Conservatorio “G. Cantelli”, Novara; Andrea Giuffredi, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica; Francesco Tamiati, First Trumpet, La Scala Philarmonic Orchestra
- Tuba - Fulvio Clementi, Professor, Conservatorio “G. Verdi”, Como
- Viola - Mauro Righini, Professor, Conservatorio “G. Verdi”, Turin
- Violin - Carlo Lazzaroni, First Part, “Il Giardino Armonico” Consory, Founder, Accademia Ambrosiana, Milan; Carlo Feige, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica; Francesco Parrino, Soloist and Private Instructor
- Vocal Coaching - Maurizio Carnelli, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica; Giovanni Fornasieri, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musical; Angela Lazzaroni, Co-Director, Accademia Ambrosiana, Milan
- Voice - Patrizia Zanardi, Professor, Conservatorio "G. Frescobaldi" Ferrara; Vincenzo Manno, La Scala Chorus, Milan; Janet Perry, Professor, Bern University of the Arts, Switzerland
- Acting for Singers - Antonello Madau-Diaz, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica
Composition, Music Theory and Technology
Past students have studied with the following faculty/ensembles
- Composition: Roberto Andreoni, Director, IES Abroad Milano; Professor, Conservatorio “N. Piccinni”, Bari; Filippo Del Corno, President, Fondazione Milan; Professor, Conservatorio, “G. Tartini”, Trieste; Simone Fontanelli, Professor, University of Mozarteum, Salzburg; Luca Francesconi, Professor, Musikhögskolan, Malmö, Sweden; Carlo Pessina, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica; Giovanni Verrando, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica, Conservatory of Lugano; Michele Tadini, Professor, Conservatoire National Supérieur Musique, Lyon
- Music Theory: Roberto Andreoni, Director, IES Abroad Milano; Professor, Conservatorio “N. Piccinni”, Bari; Andrea Melis, Professor and Director, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica; Yoichi Sugiyama, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica
- Conducting: Renato Rivolta, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica
- Computer Music, Music Technology: Michele Tadini, Professor, Conservatoire National Supérieur Musique, Lyon; AGON Ard Magnetica (Massimo Marchi, dir.); Kernel Studios (Massimo Avantaggiato, dir.)
- Ear Training: Yoichi Sugiyama, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica
- Musicianship: Marco Pisoni, Professor and Director, Accademica Musicale di Brera, Milan; Yoichi Sugiyama, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica
Music History
Past students have studied with the following faculty/ensembles
- Diego Fratelli, Professor, Milano Civica Scuola di Musica (Middle Ages, Renaissance)
- Gianluca Capuano, Conductor and Researcher (Renaissance, Baroque)
- Marco Pisoni, Professor and Director, Accademica Musicale di Brera, Milan (General)
- Francesco Maria Colombo, Conductor (Opera, 18th and 19th centuries)
- Enrico Girardi, Professor, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan (Opera, 20th century)
Ensembles and Choirs
Past students have studied with the following faculty/ensembles
- A Cappella Choir Coro CLU (Pippo Molino, cond.)
- Baroque String Consort Orchestra Milano Classica (Gianluca Capuano, cond.)
- Ensemble Workshop Simone Fontanelli
- Gospel Choir Civici Corsi di Jazz (Giorgio Ubaldi, cond.)
- Jazz Band, Jazz Theory Fabio Jegher
- Strings Assistantship Orchestra Milano Classica
- Symphonic Choir I Civici Cori (Mario Valsecchi, cond.), Nuova Polifonica Ambrosiana (Fabio Locatelli, cond.)
- Symphony Orchestra La Verdi per Tutti (Jader Bignamini, cond.)
- Wind Ensemble Silvano Scanziani
NOTE: This is a list of planned course offerings. After you are accepted, you will see a list of final course offerings in your MyIESabroad account. Additionally, IES Abroad reserves the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or circumstances beyond our control.
IES Abroad Courses
Art (1)
| Course name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CM/AR 260 - Strategies for Digital Engagement: Italian Case Studies in the Arts | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
Requirements
Eligibility Requirements
- 18 years of age
- In good standing at your home school
- 2.75 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale (GPAs under 2.75 will be considered on a case-by-case basis)
- Sophomore, junior, or senior standing when program begins - some local university courses may not be available to sophomores
- Music major or minor preferred; in the case of non-music majors/minors with serious experience, some exceptions can be considered
- No Italian required
About the IES Abroad Milan Center
IES Abroad Milan
The Center is where our highly trained local staff provide on-the-ground support throughout your time abroad.
Our long-standing presence in Milan got an upgrade in 2024: welcome to the brand new IES Abroad Milan Center. It has architectural history, over a dozen classrooms, a 280-seat auditorium, onsite gym, plenty of study spaces, and more. This cutting edge center will be your study abroad hub.
IES Abroad Milan Staff
Luca Blumer
Student Affairs Manager
Amanda Swain
Assistant Director
Marta Brambilla
Internship Coordinator
Laura Carrera
Center HR Administrator
Giorgia Cima
Academic Advisor
Giulia Glouchtchenko
Student Affairs Assistant
Teresa Keller
Academic Assistant
Manuela Nigrelli
Housing Coordinator
Sara Nunziato
Internship Assistant
Alessia Palmieri
Student Event Coordinator
Lorenzo Rossetti
Housing Assistant
Anna Salandini
Accounting & Budget Manager
Housing
Apartment
Live in a furnished apartment located in a safe and lively district. Located on main public transportation routes, apartments are within a 40-minute commute to the Center, and each apartment offers fully equipped kitchens, Internet access, a dishwasher, and a washing machine. These apartments are single-sex. Premium location units may carry an additional cost. Apartment life can be enhanced by a live-in Italian roommate called a Community Assistant (CA). These Assistants can help you improve your Italian language skills, get to know the city of Milan, and integrate more fully into the local culture. Meals are not included, so you normally eat lunch at a local café or a university cafeteria, and prepare your own breakfast and dinner at home.
Field Trips
Even though your adventure starts in Milan, our field trips take you beyond the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country. All trips are included in the program fee unless otherwise noted with ($).
NOTE: IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities, and lengths of stay may vary according to term and availability.
1 Day
Fall & Spring
Parma & Vineyards
Want to find out the difference between "parmesan cheese" and Parmigiano Reggiano? A trip to the wonderful city of Parma, in the Emilia Romagna region, will teach you that and more. Guided tours of the Duomo, Baptistery, and the Farnese Theater will follow a visit to a state-of-the-art vineywards, in the rolling hills west of Parma.
Luxury Cars & Food of Italy
1 Day
Fall & Spring
Learn what's behind these two cornerstones of the Italian economy. How did Enzo Ferrari build such iconic sports cars and balsamic vinegar become a World-renowned delicacy? You'll find out from the source!
Turin
1 Day
Fall & Spring
Experience the city of cinema, royal palaces, and chocolate. Once the capital of Italy, Turin is a refined, elegant metropolitan city of great historical interest, with a touch of contemporary, cosmopolitan buzz. Explore its baroque architecture and some of...
Lake Maggiore
1 Day
Fall & Summer
Visit the charming city of Stresa on Lago Maggiore. Get the full scenic tour on a private boat that will take you to see the three marvelous Borromean Islands, along with their museums and botanical gardens, situated in the heart of the lake.
Cinque Terre
1 Day
Fall & Summer
Get inspired while hiking the trails of this UNESCO World-Heritage site and visiting its picturesque towns overlooking the Mediterranean sea. If that wasn't enough, you'll also get to enjoy a boat tour to see the colorful villages from the sea.
Verona
1 Day
Fall & Spring
Take a trip to the Veneto region to see the famous location of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, also known as the "City of Love."
Part-Time Internships
Kristen W. • Villanova University
Did you know that, while in Milan, you can intern as part of your study abroad experience? With a part-time internship, you’ll gain global work experience that will increase your job readiness and give you an advantage after graduation. With an internship, you will:
All of our internships are supervised and earn IES Abroad credit. You participate in a mandatory 3-credit seminar to complement the practical experience you gain during the internship for a greater understanding of work life in your host country.
Placement Examples
Music Education
Music Management & Marketing
Music Production/Studio
Experiential Learning
Community-Based Learning
Participating in a community-based learning experience in Milan is one of the best ways to gain a deeper understanding of the city’s culture and society. Working alongside local people toward a common goal, you experience firsthand some of the social issues that affect Milan, while contributing your skills toward a community-driven solution.
A community-based learning placement consists of time spent with a local organization, accompanied by a weekly academic, for-credit community-based learning seminar. Through the seminar, you have structured time for reflection, discussion, and research on the issues of your host community.
IES Abroad Milan partners with the local city government’s immigration department to provide a range of community-based learning opportunities from working to grant asylum to migrants to developing job-training programs. Students also have the opportunity to work with the homeless and at-risk youth through partnerships with nonprofit organizations.
Program Cost
Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your current college or university to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your school's policies, and other factors.
Spring 2025
Fall 2025
Academic Year 2025
Spring 2026
APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
$7 Million in Scholarships & Aid
We firmly believe that financial limitations should not prevent a qualified student from studying abroad. This is why we commit millions of dollars to our study abroad scholarships and aid.
Orientation
Health & Safety
With 75 years of experience, we are proud to set the standard for health and safety in study abroad. Our Chicago-based and on-site staff are all highly trained and experienced in the matters of health, safety, and crisis management. We are here for you from predeparture to your return, and are ready to support you—no matter which time zone you’re in. We plan for "what ifs" so that you don’t have to. From international health insurance included in your program cost to highly trained local staff who can connect you with English-speaking healthcare providers, we work around the clock to ensure your health and safety while abroad.
PRO-TIP
Apply for your passport today!
Getting your passport is a crucial step for studying abroad. With processing times taking longer than usual, consider this a gentle reminder to not procrastinate on getting or renewing your passport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Identity Resources
Contact a Previous Student
Student Ambassadors
No one knows the IES Abroad experience better than a student who has lived it! From budget tips to housing experiences, our volunteer Ambassadors are here to share it all.
Related Programs
Full-Time Internship
Study Abroad
Study Abroad
Study Abroad
The Student Experience
My First Week (and a Half) in New Zealand: Part 2
In my past couple weeks here in Ōtautahi Christchurch, I have begun to learn my way around the city and figure out the best places to go shopping for what you...
Managing Chronic Pain While Abroad
A completely non-exhaustive look into surviving in a city reliant on walking when you have chronic joint pain.
My First Week (and a Half) in New Zealand: Part 1
I have now been in New Zealand for almost two weeks! In my first blog reflecting on that experience, I discuss my adventures at Sumner Beach and the Port Hills.
How will study abroad redefine your world? We can’t wait to find out.
