One of the oldest music schools in Italy,[1] the organization was originally established as an orphanage for boys known as the Orfanotrofio del Buon Pastore in 1618.
It evolved into a liberal arts college, known as the Collegio dei giovanetti dispersi, with an emphasis on literature and writing during the first half of the 18th century.
The Palermo Conservatory was originally founded in 1618 as the Orfanotrofio del Buon Pastore; an orphanage for boys located within the Chiesa di Maria Santissima Annunziata [it].
[3] At this time the composer Pietro Raimondi became director of the institution, and the conservatory underwent a period of significant growth under his leadership which lasted until 1852.
[6] In 1915, the conservatory was renamed from Collegio musicale del Buon Pastore to the Conservatorio di Musica Vincenzo Bellini after the opera composer of that name.