Naples Conservatory

Italian music school. In the 17th century music schools were established at four orphanages in Naples (S Onofrio, Poveri di Gesù Cristo, S Maria di Loreto, Pietà dei Turchini). The boys were taught counterpoint and singing and to play instruments; they took part in church services and concerts. In 1806 the remaining schools merged as the Real Collegio di Musica, which moved to the monastery S Pietro a Majella in 1826 and was later named after it.