Claudio Merulo was one of the documented pupils of Adrian Willaert, the founder of the Venetian School. Willaert, who served as maestro di cappella of St. Mark's Basilica in Venice from 1527 until his death in 1562, attracted students from across Europe, and Merulo is listed among those who studied with him. This places Merulo’s formative training in Venice, where Willaert’s influential polyphonic style and pedagogical standards shaped the next generation of Italian composers.
Claudio Merulo → Adrian Willaert
Teacher of
Connected Figures
Claudio Merulo
2026–2026
Adrian Willaert
1490–1562