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.
Adrian Willaert → Claudio Merulo
Studied under
Connected Figures
Adrian Willaert
1490–1562
Claudio Merulo
2026–2026