Our Story

Learn how this project came to be, and about its creators

The Making of this Project

The “Classical Music in the Spanish, French, and Italian Class” DVD/CD series grew organically from violinist Riana Muller’s dedication to integrated arts education. What began as live performances in her own foreign language classes, introducing students to composers like Sarasate and Piazzolla, soon expanded to her visiting other schools to share this innovative approach. Witnessing the impact of combining classical music with cultural and linguistic studies, Muller, an acclaimed violinist and a seasoned educator, collaborated with distinguished concert pianist Francis Brancaleone. Together, they meticulously crafted these unique DVD/CD sets, featuring their live performances of carefully chosen pieces by iconic composers from each country (such as Falla, Saint-Saëns, and Vivaldi), complemented by comprehensive lesson plans, historical context, and interactive questions—all designed to seamlessly integrate music, history, and language for a richer, cross-curricular learning experience.

About Ms. Muller

Riana Ricci Muller has been honored with the prestigious Ysaÿe Medal and Diplome d’Honneur by the Ysaÿe Foundation, Brussels, Belgium, in recognition of her World Premiere performance of Eugene Ysaÿe’s Violin Concerto No. 8. Chamber Music America has also awarded her a Certificate of Commendation. Her articles have been published in the American String Teacher and the New York School Music News, and she has performed on MPR and WNYC radio.

Mrs. Muller earned her B.M. and M.M. from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied violin with Joseph Knitzer, Carroll Glenn, Louis Persinger, and her father, the distinguished violinist Ruggiero Ricci. She has previously held faculty positions at Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA, Amarillo College in Texas, and the College of St. Benedict in Minnesota. Additionally, she has taught in public schools in New York, Nebraska, and Florida.

About Francis Brancaleone (1936 - 2023)

Francis Brancaleone presented solo recitals at New York’s Town Hall and Tully Hall, and performed concertos with orchestras such as the Detroit Symphony. Dr. Brancaleone earned a Ph.D. in Music from the City University of New York, and Master’s degrees from the City University of New York, Queens College, and the Manhattan School of Music. His academic background also included a Bachelor’s degree from the Eastman School of Music and a diploma from the Palestrina Institute of Ecclesiastical Music.

He served as an Associate Professor at Manhattanville College, NY. His prior teaching appointments included Baruch College (CUNY), Purchase College, the University of Bridgeport, Westchester Community College, and the Preparatory Divisions of both the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School. He previously held the position of Director of Piano at the Aaron Copland Music and Arts Program. A laureate of the International Bach Society, Dr. Brancaleone’s performance repertoire spanned from early music to the premieres of contemporary compositions. We dedicate this website to his memory.