By Peter de Kuster

There are journeys that begin with a single note. For Simona Molinari, born in Naples in 1983 and raised in L’Aquila, the first steps of her Grand Tour were set to the soundtrack of old American musicals and the jazz standards that enchanted her as a child. At just eight years old, she began formal singing lessons, but it wasn’t long before her curiosity led her to jazz improvisation, black-American vocal styles, and eventually the classical rigor of the conservatory.

The Call to Adventure

Every Grand Tour starts with a call—a whisper that there is more to life than the ordinary. For Simona, it was the allure of the stage and the irresistible pull of music’s transformative power. She answered by throwing herself into theater, collaborating with luminaries like Michele Placido, and starring in musicals such as “Jekyll and Hyde.” But her true voice emerged when she began to write and compose her own songs, blending pop with jazz, and infusing each performance with her unique sensibility.

Crossing the Threshold

Simona’s threshold moment came in 2009 at the Sanremo Music Festival, performing her song “Egocentrica.” The world took notice. Her debut album followed, and with it, a series of accolades: the Lunezia Award, the Carosone Award, and a growing reputation as one of Italy’s most promising young talents. Yet, like all heroines, Simona’s journey was not just about external success—it was about the inner quest for authenticity.

Trials and Allies

The road was not always smooth. The music industry is a labyrinth, but Simona navigated it with courage, collaborating with legends such as Andrea Bocelli, Al Jarreau, and Ornella Vanoni. Each duet, each concert in storied venues from New York’s Blue Note to Moscow’s Estrada Theater, became a rite of passage, shaping her artistry and expanding her horizons.

Transformation and Revelation

A Grand Tour is marked by transformation. Simona’s came not only through music but also through acting, debuting as the lead in Walter Veltroni’s film “C’è tempo” in 2019. She wrote theme songs for television and cinema, always seeking new ways to tell her story and touch the hearts of her audience.

The Return with the Elixir

Today, Simona Molinari stands as a testament to the power of perseverance and reinvention. Her latest works, including a tribute album to Mercedes Sosa inspired by her theater show “El Pelusa Y La Negra,” reveal an artist who has not only found her voice but uses it to honor those who inspired her. Her journey has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Tenco Prize and the Callas Award in New York.

Simona’s story is not just about music; it is about the courage to embrace one’s own path, to blend tradition with innovation, and to return from each adventure richer in spirit. In every note she sings, you hear the echo of a heroine who continues to journey, ever onward, ever upward—inviting us all to find the music within our own lives.

---

Questions for Your Own Grand Tour

As you reflect on Simona Molinari’s Grand Tour, consider your own path. Every journey, whether sung on stage or lived in quiet moments, is unique—and yours is waiting to be explored. Here are some questions to guide your own story:

• What was the moment you first felt the “call to adventure” in your life?
• When did you step out of your comfort zone and cross a threshold into the unknown?
• Who have been your mentors, allies, or companions on your journey?
• What challenges or trials have shaped your character and creativity?
• How have you transformed through your experiences—what new strengths or insights have you gained?
• What “elixir” or gift do you bring back to your community from your journey?
• If your life were a song or a story, what would its central theme be?

Let these questions be the first notes of your own grand tour. The stage is yours—how will you compose your next chapter?