Manuel Figheli se je klavir in harmoniko začel učiti na Glasbeni matici v razredu prof. Paole Chiabudini in v razredu prof. Aleksandra Ipavca. Med šolanjem se je izpopolnjeval z različnimi priznanimi pedagogi kot so: Stefan Hussong, Yanne Rathia, Milijan Bijeletič, Vladimir Viardo in drugi.
S šolskim harmonikarskim orkestrom je sodeloval na številnih mednarodnih tekmovanjih, med temi (Praga 2006) in Castelfidardo (2007 in 2008) in dosegel odlične rezultate. Sodeloval je tudi s harmonikarskim orkestrom »Sinthesys 4« na mednarodnem tekmovanju v Pragi. Hkrati se je lotil študija jazza z različnimi profesorji.
Izpopolnjeval se je z Giovannijem Boscariolom, dolgoletnim članom orkestra iz San Rema, Federicom Solazzom, predstavnikom in sound inženirjem znamke »Clavia Nord« ter Manuelom Montesantijem, sound designerjem znamke »Yamaha«.
Diplomiral je iz harmonike na konservatoriju »Steffani« v Castelfrancu Venetu in iz klavirja na konservatoriju »Tomadini« v Vidmu. Poleg tega je zaključil magisterski študij muzikologije na univerzi v Vidmu. Kot muzikolog je izdal dve knjigi in dve zgoščenki z naslovom »Tako so peli«, zbirka ljudskih pesmi iz Kanalske doline.
Od leta 2006 poučuje klavir in harmoniko na Glasbeni matici v Gorici in v Kanalski dolini. Ob poučevanju se intenzivno ukvarja s koncertno dejavnostjo, ki obsega različne glasbene zvrsti. Kot harmonikar in pianist sodeluje v različnih glasbenih projektih. Je član kvinteta Maura Maur, dolgoletnega glasbenika Ennia Morriconeja s katerim je koncertira po Evropi, Južni Ameriki in na Japonskem. Igral je s Frankom Londonom, dobitnikom Grammy award iz New Yorka ter članom ameriške zasedbe »The Klezmatics«. Sodeluje z različnimi italijanskimi igralci kot so Mario Cordova, Francesco Gusmitta, Giorgio Amodeo in drugi. Izdal je več zgoščenk v vlogi harmonikarja, pianista in aranžerja. Je ustanovitelj in umetniški vodja mednarodnega glasbenega tekmovanja »Tomaž Holmar« za pianiste in harmonikarje, ki poteka vsako leto v Naborjetu.
Od leta 2023 je ravnatelj Glasbene matice v Furlaniji Julijski krajini.
Manuel Figheli began studying piano and accordion at the Glasbena Matica in the class of Prof. Paola Chiabudini and Prof. Aleksandar Ipavec. During his studies, he improved his skills with various renowned teachers such as: Stefan Hussong, Yanne Rathia, Milijan Bijeletič, Vladimir Viardo and others.
He participated in numerous international competitions with the school accordion orchestra, including (Prague 2006) and Castelfidardo (2007 and 2008), achieving excellent results. He also collaborated with the accordion orchestra “Sinthesys 4” at the international competition in Prague. At the same time, he began studying jazz with various professors.
He improved his skills with Giovanni Boscariolo, a long-time member of the San Remo orchestra, Federico Solazzo, a representative and sound engineer for the “Clavia Nord” brand, and Manuel Montesanti, a sound designer for the “Yamaha” brand.
He graduated in accordion at the Steffani Conservatory in Castelfranco Veneto and in piano at the Tomadini Conservatory in Udine. He also completed a master’s degree in musicology at the University of Udine. As a musicologist, he published two books and two CDs entitled “Tako so peli”, a collection of folk songs from the Canal Valley.
Since 2006, he has been teaching piano and accordion at the Glasbena Matica in Gorizia and in the Canal Valley. In addition to teaching, he is intensively involved in concert activities, which include various musical genres. As an accordionist and pianist, he participates in various musical projects. He is a member of the Mauro Maur quintet, a long-time musician of Ennio Morricone, with whom he has given concerts in Europe, South America and Japan. He has played with Frank London, a Grammy award winner from New York and a member of the American band “The Klezmatics”. He collaborates with various Italian players such as Mario Cordova, Francesco Gusmitta, Giorgio Amodeo and others. He has released several CDs as an accordionist, pianist and arranger.
He is the founder and artistic director of the international music competition “Tomaž Holmar” for pianists and accordionists, which takes place every year in Naborjet.
Since 2023, he has been the director of the Music Foundation in Friuli Venezia Giulia