Deadline for academic course applications: March 15, 2014 - special courses: May 15, 2014

Just for precision: are they referred to as academic courses only because the school is called an academy, or because they are recognized degrees such as a three-year/two-year program from a Conservatory? Reading the website, they seem like advanced specialization courses..

From the information section, I think they are NOT an equivalent institute

http://www.accademiaperosi.org/web/page.php?id_menu=70

Even though it then says

Since 2010, the Perosi of Biella has entered into an agreement with the Vivaldi Conservatory of Alessandria.

If I am not mistaken, agreements are a sort of "reference" when presenting some candidate... at least with traditional courses, now I wouldn't know how they handle the matter... perhaps for admissions ...

The convention will be for pre-academic courses, like almost all conservatories in Italy. And it is certainly not an equivalent degree (there is a list on the ministry's website). So this is a case of "homonymy." Okay, for the seriousness of the institution, it would be important to say so and not let even a hint of a message pass that one can obtain a valid title for certain purposes. Then again, there are top-tier teachers, for goodness' sake. They will be excellent advanced courses (to be included in artistic credentials when applying for substitute teaching, certainly not in academic qualifications).