Francesca Verunelli studied composition with Rosario Mirigliano and piano with Stefano Fiuzzi at the Conservatorio Luigi Cherubini in Florence where she earned both diplomas summa cum laude. She concluded her studies in composition at the Accademia Santa Cecilia, with Azio Corghi. After moving to Paris she attended IRCAM’s training in Composition and Computer Music. She holds a PhD from PSL University (Paris Sciences & Lettres).
In 2010 at La Biennale di Venezia, she was awarded the “Leone d’argento” prize.
She has been composer-in-research at Ircam and GMEM; and resident artist of the Casa de Velasquez (Madrid – 2015/2016) and the Villa Médicis (Académie de France à Rome – 2016/17).
She was a recipient of the prestigious Composer’s Siemens Prize in 2020.
She received commissions from important musical institutions and festivals such as IRCAM, NeueVocalsolisten Stuttgart, La Biennale di Venezia, Orchestre Philarmonique de Radio France, Milano Musica, Accentus Chamber Choir, Lucerne Symphonic Orchestra, Court-Circuit ensemble, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, GMEM de Marseille, CIRM de Nice, the French State, the FACE Foundation, Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik, International Contemporary Ensemble, Donaueschinger MusikTage, ECLAT, Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, Klangforum Wien, Musica Viva – Munich, Acht Brücken Köln.
She was awarded the 41st “Premio Abbiati della critica” in May 2022.
On the occasion of the world premiere of “Tune and retune II” during the Donaueschinger Musiktage 2023 she was awarded the Orchesterpreis des SWR.
Currently, “Songs and Voices,” a 70-minute work for voices and ensemble jointly commissioned by Neue Vocalsolisten, GMEM, Grame, Ircam, and the Venice Biennale, is on tour in Europe and will be recorded on CD this fall..
“La nuda voce”, cycle in three parts for soprano, mezzosoprano and large ensemble has been premiered at the Philharmonie in Paris on May 21, 2026 with Pierre Bleuse and Ensemble Intercontemporain and will be performed during next Salzburger Festspiele (12 August 2026) with Emilio Pomarico and Klangforum Wien.
Her “Cello Concerto”, which has just been completed and was written for Nicolas Altstaed, will receive its world premiere with the SWR on September 17, 2026.
Next season, she will be composer-in-residence at the Musikverein in Vienna, where her works will be featured in several concerts.
She currently teaches theory and composition at HSLU.