The State Conservatory "G. Rossini" is an Higher Education Institution; it is one of the oldest Conservatories in Italy. It has been founded thanks to Gioachino Rossinis wishes, who leaved his properties to the Pesaro Town Council with the explicit aim to make a "Liceo Musicale." The school began its courses in 1882 and became a statal institution in 1939. In 1978 a separate department was created in the nearby town of Fermo; the department became an independent Conservatory in 1998.
The First Director of the Conservatory was Carlo Pedrotti, an opera composer from Verona; he disposed the construction of the Auditorium that nowadays is bearing his name and which opened in 1892. After him we can mention Pietro Mascagni, Amilcare Zanella, Riccardo Zandonai, Franco Alfano and Lino Liviabella: great musicians whose work has improved the musical quality standards of the Conservatoire and spread its fame over the years.
The Conservatory has its seat in the Palazzo Olivieri - Machirelli (18th Century), the former residence of a noble family from Pesaro. The interior of the Palazzo is adorned by neo-classic frescos painted by the artist Gianandrea Lazzarini (1710-1801) from Pesaro. The building has been restored under the superintendence of the Marche General Office for Fine Arts. During the following centuries it was enlarged and adapted to face the needs of a musical institution.
The Library has got a patrimony of 40.000 volumes, among them modern books for teaching and research. The core of the Library is however an historical found of great interest for both Italian and foreign musicologists and musicians. Online catalogues are in processing.
The LEMS, Electronic Music Laboratory, has a very long and important history: it has been founded in the Seventies by the teachers of the new-born electronic music course, its activity in composing, recording, restoring, experimenting has been of great importance in Italy. The LEMS has recently restored its 70s and 80s rare electronic devices.