Franco Ferrara (Palermo, 4 July 1911 – Florence, 6 September 1985) was an Italian conductor. After obtaining diplomas in piano, violin, organ and musical composition at the Conservatory of Bologna, Ferrara began his career as violin player in Bologna, in Rome and in Florence, with the Orchestra of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (1933 – 1940). Encouraged to take on conducting, he debuted in 1938 in Florence beginning a brilliant career.In 1948, he retired from conducting in public concerts owing to poor health, but he kept conducting for records and he was engaged as a teacher at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome.