The Agon Ensemble is a group of talented young musicians from different European countries collaborating toward a common project. In addition to performing in prestigious concert halls, this group strives to bring music to places and people that, due to their circumstances, are not predisposed listeners of classical music. As a team of ambitious young artists from all over Europe, the group is a form of celebration of the European Union that brings important outreach work to the city of Cremona and beyond. The ensemble works in synergy with schools, local young musicians, hospitals, nursing homes, and community centres, introducing and exploring both classical and contemporary repertoire in these unique settings. As individual ambassadors of their respective European countries, and having performed with renowned orchestras such as the European Union Youth Orchestra and the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, the members aim to improve cultural and musical life throughout all of Europe. The ensemble not only brings together the best talents from several European countries, but is also a meeting place for different cultures. This demonstrates the ensemble’s spirit, which is fully reflected in the name Agon: to amplify artistic expression by uniting different cultures and traditions, as an intellectual or artistic confrontation or challenge.
The Agon initiative is the brainchild of Martino Moruzzi. Born in 1996 in Cremona, Martino is a young clarinettist who has had the opportunity to meet many talented musicians in different musical environs during his international artistic activities. Martino currently holds the position of clarinettist at the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra in Stockholm. He was a member of the prestigious European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) for several years, as well as an academician at the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra in Stockholm and for two years principal bass clarinet in the renowned London Symphony Orchestra. Having gained artistic and human experience in various European countries (as well as in South America, Cuba, and Canada), Martino has had the desire to bring artistic treasures, experiences, and events to his own city. This desire fuelled him to resurrect the initiative, named AGON, created with tenacity and passion by his father Mauro Moruzzi over thirty years earlier. Mauro was a clarinetist who left an indelible mark on the city of Cremona and the surrounding area.
In addition to his work as a professor of clarinet at the Cremona Conservatory and the Cagliari Conservatory and as clarinetist with the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano, he also founded the Agon Music Association, which aimed to promote local musicians and implement various cultural and educational initiatives throughout the Cremona area. Unfortunately Mauro Moruzzi passed away suddenly in 1999, without completing his dream of creating a stable project that would add value to the city of Cremona. Martino decided that he wanted to continue his father’s ambitious project, and thanks to a meeting with Michiel Wittink (Netherlands) and Agnese Lecchi (Italy), both members of the project’s steering committee, Agon came to life in October 2022. As already mentioned, the Ensemble is committed to enriching musical and cultural life starting first of all in the city of Cremona, with the future ambition to export the project to neighbouring communities and the whole European Community.
Born in Cremona, a city with an extraordinary musical tradition, Martino Moruzzi is a clarinetist who looks to the future with a clear and innovative vision: to change the role of the classical musician in contemporary society. Having played with some of the world’s most prestigious orchestras, such as the London Symphony Orchestra, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam, and having found his artistic home in Stockholm, Martino has developed a profound conviction: classical music cannot remain confined to large theaters and auditoriums, but must be taken everywhere, where people need it most. Martino dreams of a future in which the classical musician becomes a figure in the service of the community, able to share high-quality music not only on stage, but also in hospitals, schools, retirement homes and even in prisons. For him, music is not just art, but a powerful tool for healing, educating and creating human bonds. His connection with Cremona motivates him to bring this vision back to his home town: to create not only a permanent orchestra, but a model where music becomes an integral part of everyday life, combining the prestige of tradition with the need for social innovation. Martino Moruzzi is not just a musician; he is a bridge between the great classical tradition and a future where music can really make a difference for everyone.