Parma Conservatory
Introduction
[thumb\|Parma Conservatory](/wiki/File:Conservatorio_di_Parma_A._Boito.jpg "Conservatorio di Parma A. Boito.jpg")
The **Conservatorio di Musica Arrigo Boito**, better known in English as the **Parma Conservatory**, is a [music conservatory](/wiki/Music_conservatory "Music conservatory") in [Parma](/wiki/Parma "Parma"), Italy. It was originally established as the **Regia Scuola di Canto**, a school for singing in 1819 by [Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma](/wiki/Marie_Louise%2C_Duchess_of_Parma "Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma"), and expanded into a conservatory of music in 1825\. In 1840 instrumental music instruction began, followed by the addition of music composition, conducting, and other musical studies.

Initially a school open only to men, the Parma Conservatory became a co\-education institution in 1855 known as the **Regia Scuola di Musica**. In 1888 the school moved from being a private school to a public institution operated by the [Government of Italy](/wiki/Government_of_Italy "Government of Italy"). Its name was changed to its present title to honor the composer [Arrigo Boito](/wiki/Arrigo_Boito "Arrigo Boito") in 1919\.


Are there any similar music conservatories in other European countries?