Francesco La Vecchia is an Italian conductor. As a child he received music lessons from his maternal grandfather and took up the guitar, giving his first concert at the age of 9. He studied with Alirio Diaz, and in 1972 formed the Boccherini Quintet, which toured Europe, Asia, and the United States. La Vecchia founded the Arts Academy of Rome in 1978, the New World Youth Orchestra in Latin America in 1993, and the Ottorino Respighi Youth Orchestra in 2001. La Vecchia became the artistic and musical director of the Rome Symphony Orchestra in 2002, and was named principal guest conductor of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra in 2009. La Vecchia has recorded for Naxos and Brilliant Classics, specializing in the works of modern Italian composers.