It is a very intense and happy period that the Forlì singer Matilde Montanari is experiencing. After enjoying the Ariston stage during this year’s Sanremo festival, where she was a guest with Santa Balera for the 70th anniversary of ‘Romagna mia’, Matilde was awarded the 43rd edition of the Golden Peacock , the Faenza singing competition created by Don Italo Cavagnini.
What are the feelings after winning the Golden Peacock?
“It’s a magical competition, an environment that I’ve never found elsewhere. A competition where you sing absolutely live accompanied by a fantastic band and choir, in a splendid setting like that of the Masini theatre. It’s an immense joy and satisfaction. Despite the young age already has a reasonable maturity and knowledge of singing”.
Do you see it as your future activity?
” Absolutely yes. I started singing at 9 years old and have never stopped. I am in the fifth year of the ‘Canova’ musical high school in Forlì. An infinite passion that I want to make my life and my profession. In addition to singing, I also play the electric bass, and up to now I have gained a lot of live experience playing in some local bands. I am also curating a series of new unreleased songs, and a new publication is expected soon. Thanks to Cosascuola Music Academy and the Ranaway project I have had the opportunity to participate in the television program ‘Tu si que vales’ last October”.
Among these experiences also the arrival in the Santa Balera project?
“Of course. For this I have to thank Giordano Sangiorgi of Mei. Santa Balera is a project that brings generation Z and young people closer to the ballroom and folk music of Romagna. With them I had the immense pleasure of singing ‘Romagna mia’ on the Ariston stage ‘ on its 70th anniversary and in memory of Maestro Secondo Casadei. A unique emotion where I have metabolised that I would like to spend the rest of my life on these stages. A tour of Santa Balera will also start, and we will take Romagna music around.” .
But she is also active on the social front in the musical context. What is it about?
“Since 2019 I have been involved in the healthy entertainment project entitled ‘Big fun, no trip’ where we organize alcohol-free evenings in discos for under 18s, and we also organize meetings in school settings in collaboration with the authorities”.
Gianni Zampaglione
