Paolo Petrocelli

Paolo Petrocelli is a cultural manager and university professor driven by the belief that culture, arts and education are a major force for growth, development and change globally. Former Board Member of the Rome Opera House and Director General of the Stauffer Center for Strings in Cremona, Italy, he currently serves as the Head of Dubai Opera in the United Arab Emirates. He is the Founder and President of EMMA for Peace (Euro-Mediterranean Music Academy), one of the world’s largest international non-profit organizations for the promotion of a culture of peace through music diplomacy and education in Europe, Middle East and the Mediterranean region. Paolo is the Founder and Honorary President of the Italian Youth Association for UNESCO, the largest youth organization in the UNESCO system, Cultural Diplomacy Officer for the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, and Cultural Advisor to Coldplay.

Petrocelli got a PhD in Cultural Economics from IULM University of Milan, an Executive MBA from the Bocconi School of Management, a Diploma in Violin Performance from Conservatory of Music of Santa Cecilia of Rome, an MA and BA in music and literature from Sapienza University of Rome and Middlesex University of London.

In 2022, he has been selected by the think tank Friends of Europe among the 40 most influential young personalities in Europe and nominated European Young Leader. In the same year, the magazine Fortune named him among the 40 most influential personalities under 40 in Italy, as the first cultural manager ever selected. And in 2023, he has been recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum for continued contributions to arts and culture development internationally.