Justine Rapaccioli

Born and raised in Britain, Justine studied at Royal Holloway (University of London), the University of Pisa, Venice Conservatoire, the Accademia Musicale Pescarese and the Accademia Europea (Vicenza) gaining a degree in music and diplomas in violin, piano, choral conducting and orchestral conducting.

She is the founder and conductor of Edesse Ensemble. She is also Deputy Conductor (Maestro Sostituto) of the Cappella Marciana, the choir of St Mark’s Basilica, Venice, and is the first woman to hold the post in the choir’s 700-year history. She has conducted the choir in concerts in Italy and abroad, and has been interviewed by BBC Radio 3.

Justine is active in the field of contemporary music, and has conducted performances for both the Venice Biennale Musica and Biennale Arte. She is also regularly asked to act as a choral clinician at international workshops and seminars.

She is a composer, principally of choral music. Her works have been performed in Italy, England and France. In 2019, The Tallis Scholars performed her motet for double choir, Quae est ista, at the Aula Magna Sapienza in Rome, the Teatro della Pergola in Florence and at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genova. In 2023 her Da Pacem Domine for 5 sackbuts and choral drone was given its premiere performance at the Royal Chapel of the Palace of Versailles.