The Organo Pleno Masterclass was born in 2012, following the initiative of M° Riccardo Cossi and Gabriele Damiani, both of whom also held lessons during the first five editions. Their goal was to offer an “in-house” course of musical interpretation to both young students and professionals within the city of Trieste, making the most of various church organs which constellate the area. Amongst these: the 1927 electro-pneumatic Mascioni Organ (housed in the Church of “Beata Vergine del Soccorso”), the 1999 mechanical Zanina Organ (housed in the Church of “Santa Teresa”), the 1973 mechanical Oberlinger Organ (housed in the Church of San Giovanni Decollato) and the 1989 mechanical Mascioni Organ (housed in the Sanctuary of Montegrisa).

Following the success of the first two editions of the Masterclass, a third edition was held in Oxford (UK) as part of a project to explore one of the city’s finest instruments.

Since its 6th edition, the Organo Pleno Masterclass has become an integral part of San Giusto Cathedral’s Settembre Musicale, accompanying each edition’s opening concert: as of 2018, the course has taken place on the Cathedral’s 1922 Mascioni Organ, as well as on other instruments of the area. It also sees the participation of each edition’s headline organ performer in the role of tutor.

Amongst the various guest performers of both national and international acclaim, special mention goes to Ludger Lohmann (Germany) in 2018, Massimiliano Raschietti (Italy) in 2019, Mario Perestegi (Slovenia) in 2020, Ben Van Oosten (Netherlands) in 2022, Roberto Marini (Italy) in 2023 and Jean-Baptiste Monnot (France) in 2024.