Khalee Music

Francesco Calì is a composer, pianist and accordionist from Italy and has lived in Copenhagen (Denmark) since 2003. 
He began his professional carrier at the age of 12 playing the accordion and after some years he entered the Conservatory V. Bellini in Catania (Italy) graduating both in classical piano and classical composition, all the while also performing as a jazz pianist and accordionist.
               In 2000 he won the international competition Pépinières Européennes pour Jeunes Artistes, obtaining a residency in Copenhagen, where he attended classes at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory.
               As a composer and arranger, Francesco Calì has written works for a wide variety of instrumental and vocal combinations (e.g., symphonic orchestra, string orchestra, string quartet, horns, accordion and guitar, choir, as well as “solo” accordion, and piano). He is a member of several Copenhagen based jazz projects and features on more than 70 albums during his long career.

​ • Education
- Classical Conservatory “V. Bellini” (Catania, Italy): graduated in Classical Piano - 1993
- Classical Conservatory “V. Bellini” (Catania, Italy): graduated in Classical Composition - 2001

  • Private studying
- Masterclass at the International Music Institute, on the subject “Music for images” (Rome, 1999)
- Big Band arranging, with Ole Kock Hansen (Copenhagen, 2000)
- Orchestral arranging, with Gil Goldstein (New York, 2009)

• Curriculum excerpt
 
        - Since 2005 accordionist and pianist in several theatre productions (Malmö Opera, Royal Theatre of Copenhagen, Det Ny Teater, etc.)
        - 1st. prize winner in the international competition for choirs held within the Music Diaries International Workshop Festival in Greece (2022)
        - concerts with the legendary Swedish choir conductor Gunnar Eriksson (2018)
        - European tour with the US broadcast show "A Prairie Home Companion" hosted by Garrison Keillor (2017)
        - performing with the Danish Radio Underholdnings Orkestret (RUO), conducted by David Firman, writing new compositions and new arrangements for this orchestra (2007)
        - composed the Human Rights Hymn for Danish Institute for Human Rights. The hymn has been premiered on United Nations International Human Rights Day, at the Royal Theatre, in Copenhagen (2005)
        - won the 3rd prize in the International Choir Composer's Competition "Waterworks" (www.hymnia.dk) (2003)
        - invited to perform his compositions and arrangements in Lyon (France), where he gave several concerts conducting a small orchestra with musicians of the Classical Conservatory of Lyon (2000)
        - won the international contest “Pépinières Européennes pour Jeunes Artistes”, obtaining a residency in Copenhagen (at Rhythmic Music Conservatory) (2000)
        - performed at ”Biennale dei giovani artisti dell'Europa e del Mediterraneo” in Torino, as a member of the  European Jazz Orchestra conducted by Furio Di Castri (2000)

He has toured in Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, England, Ireland, France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Romania, Holland, Palestine, Russia, Panama, Japan, China.