If you spent any part of 2015 glued to Disney Channel Italy, you definitely remember the Melsher Institute. You probably also remember the catchy "Music Speaks" theme song and the messy love triangle between Alex, Nicole, and Christian. It’s been years since the final special episodes aired in 2017, and the Alex and Co cast has scattered across the globe. Some went to Hollywood. Others became best-selling authors. A few basically vanished from the spotlight altogether.
Honestly, it’s wild to see how much has changed. Back then, they were just a bunch of Italian teenagers trying to make a "secret" band work in a school that hated music. Now? They’re navigating major Netflix sets and international fashion weeks.
Where is Leonardo Cecchi Now?
The leader of the group, Alex Leoni himself, didn't stay in Italy for long. Leonardo Cecchi is a dual citizen, born in Minneapolis, which made his transition to the U.S. market a lot smoother than most.
He moved to Los Angeles around 2018. If you’ve been keeping up with his socials, you know he’s not just acting anymore. He actually started studying neuroscience at UCLA while balancing auditions. That’s a pretty intense pivot from being a teen idol. He’s appeared in projects like American Horror Stories and the 2024 film Prom Dates.
Leo also wrote an autobiography called Un respiro lungo e via right as the show was wrapping up. It’s funny because in the show, Alex was always the "perfect" guy, but Cecchi has been pretty open about the struggles of moving to a new country and starting over from scratch. He’s definitely not just "that kid from Disney" anymore.
The Eleonora Gaggero Evolution
Eleonora Gaggero, who played the sensitive Nicole De Ponte, has arguably had one of the most interesting post-Disney careers. She didn’t just stick to acting.
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She’s a legitimate author.
Since 2017, she has published over half a dozen novels. Her book Sul più bello was even turned into a hit movie on Netflix (known as Out of My League in English), where she actually played a supporting role while someone else played the lead character she created. That is some serious "meta" energy.
Aside from her writing, she recently landed a role in the massive series Those About to Die, which is a huge step into international, big-budget television. She’s definitely proof that you don't have to pick just one lane.
Saul Nanni and the Big Screen
If you were a "Team Christian" fan, you’ve probably noticed Saul Nanni popping up in some high-profile places. He always had that leading-man look, and directors noticed.
He moved away from the "teen hearthrob" vibe pretty quickly. Saul has been working with some heavy hitters in the Italian film industry. He starred in Under the Riccione Sun on Netflix, which felt like a more mature version of the summer vibes we got in Alex & Co. More recently, he’s been attached to projects like Supersex and The Leopard.
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He seems to be the one most focused on "prestige" acting rather than the pop-star life the show originally teased.
Beatrice Vendramin and the Fashion World
Emma Ferrari was the fashionista of the group, and life has definitely imitated art for Beatrice Vendramin. While she still acts—appearing in things like the film Felicità—she has become a staple in the European fashion circuit.
If you look at photos from Milan or Paris Fashion Week today, you’ll likely see her in the front row. She’s worked heavily with brands like Armani. She has this very polished, high-fashion aesthetic now that’s a world away from the bright hoodies and school uniforms of the Melsher Institute.
What About the Rest of the Band?
Then there's Federico Russo (Sam). It’s easy to get him confused with the famous Italian radio host or the soccer player of the same name, but our Sam has kept a relatively lower profile lately compared to the others. He’s still active in the industry, but he hasn't chased the Hollywood dragon quite as hard as Leo.
Giulia Guerrini, who played Rebecca, actually stayed within the Disney family for a while. She moved over to the spin-off Penny on M.A.R.S., which kept the Alex and Co cast legacy alive for a few more years.
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Why the Show Still Has a Cult Following
You might wonder why people still care about a show that ended nearly a decade ago.
It was a weird time for Disney Channel. They were trying to replicate the High School Musical success in Europe, and Alex & Co was the first time an Italian production really broke through internationally. It was dubbed into dozens of languages. For a lot of kids in Europe and the UK, this was their version of Hannah Montana.
The music also played a huge part. Even though the "band" isn't touring anymore, songs like "We Are One" still get millions of streams. It captures that specific 2015 brand of optimistic pop that’s hard to find now.
Real Talk: The "Secret" To Their Success
Most teen stars burn out. They get stuck in the "Disney Vault" and can't get people to take them seriously as adults. The Alex and Co cast avoided this by leanings into their specific strengths:
- Regional Loyalty: They stayed relevant in Italy while branching out.
- Diversification: Writing books (Eleonora) and pursuing high-level education (Leonardo) gave them lives outside of the bubble.
- Patience: They didn't all try to become the next Justin Bieber immediately. They took small, meaningful roles in indie films and TV dramas.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re feeling nostalgic and want to see how they've actually changed, you should check out Out of My League on Netflix to see Eleonora’s work, or look up Leonardo Cecchi’s short film Louie's Emotions. It gives a much better look at who they are as artists today than a 20-minute sitcom episode ever could.
The most actionable thing? Follow their current projects on Instagram rather than just rewatching the old episodes. Most of them are very active in sharing their "real" lives, which are honestly just as interesting as the scripts they used to read.
The Alex and Co cast proved that being a "Disney kid" doesn't have to be a dead end. Whether they are writing novels, studying the brain, or walking runways in Milan, they’ve managed to grow up without losing the spark that made the show a hit in the first place.