Biography

Francesca Campo, harpist, teacher, and music researcher, is an artist who blends tradition and innovation, carrying with her a deep cultural heritage rooted in Sicily, her homeland.

Born in the province of Pavia to parents from Castelvetrano and raised in Verona, Francesca has always lived between two identities: that of Northern Italy, where she spent her childhood and early education, and that of the South, inherited through stories, language, and traditions passed down by her grandparents and parents. This connection to Sicily has played a central role in her personal and artistic life, deeply influencing her musical journey.

Her love for music and the harp blossomed at an early age: Francesca began playing the instrument in fourth grade, continuing her studies at the Verona Conservatory under the guidance of Nazarena Recchia, and later moved to another city to earn her Bachelor's Degree in Harp at the Conservatory of Turin. In 2023, she moved to the Netherlands, where she attended a Master's in Harp at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, studying with renowned teachers such as Ernestine Stoop and Sylvain Blasel.

Alongside perfecting her harp artistry, Francesca is also a passionate researcher. Her work explores the traditional music of Southern Italy and the role of music in the history and culture of the Sicilian people. Her Master’s research focuses on the transitional period between the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the unification of Italy, a time of great change, examined through the lens of music.

Teaching is another fundamental dimension of her artistic identity. Francesca deeply values adapting each lesson to the individual student in front of her, recognizing that every learner has unique needs, sensitivities, and ways of understanding music. She especially enjoys teaching through play, integrating movement and rhythm into her lessons. For her, music is not only something to be studied intellectually, but something to be experienced physically and joyfully. Movement, body awareness, and rhythmic exploration are always present in her teaching, creating a dynamic and engaging learning environment.

At the heart of her work lies the idea of music as an “Echo of the People,” a powerful and timeless means of expression. Through the harp—an instrument capable of evoking the delicacy of the deepest emotions—Francesca seeks to tell forgotten stories and shed light on a rarely explored musical repertoire, particularly that of Southern Italy.

Francesca Campo is a musician who goes beyond performance: through her work, she aims to build bridges between past and present, between North and South, carrying forward the mission of celebrating and promoting Sicilian musical culture both in Italy and abroad.

Francesca’s story is that of a young artist who, despite living far from her native land, carries with her the traditions, passion, and strength of a people. Her music is an invisible thread that weaves together memory, identity, and future, telling the story of Sicily through the delicate strings of her harp.