General InformationThis year's festival is taking place from July 1 - August 6, 2023 in the town of Piobbico, located in the spectacular mountainous Marche region of Italy. Piobbico is located two hours East of Florence, and one hour South of San Marino. During its 2023 season, the Brancaleoni International Music Festival will host two programs of study during two sessions: Voice & Collaborative Piano (July 1 - July 22, 2023), and Piano & Strings (July 23 - August 6, 2023).
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Piobbico
Housing & Meals |
Students will be housed in apartments with a typical two to four person occupancy. Each apartment is within walking distance from teaching and practice facilities and comes equipped with a kitchen and washing machine. Bedrooms will be furnished with single or queen-sized beds. Meals are not included in apartment rental or tuition costs. Food can be purchased at the local grocery store or weekly farmer's market, allowing students to prepare their own meals. This is a cost-effective alternative to dining out at the local restaurants for lunch or dinner. Breakfast in Italy usually consists of a coffee and small pastry, which can be enjoyed at one of the various cafes in town.
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Dates & Transportation
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The festival will provide bus transportation from the Bologna airport (BLQ) to Piobbico during the following times only:
Voice Festival Arrival: flight must arrive in BLQ on July 1, before 4:00 PM Voice Festival Departure: flight must depart BLQ on July 22, after 10:00 AM. Piano & Strings Program Arrival: flight must arrive in BLQ on July 23, before 4:00 PM Piano & Strings Program Departure: flight must depart BLQ on August 6, after 10:00 AM There is no alternative mode of transportation to arrive in Piobbico except for private taxi, which is expensive, and will be at the sole cost of the participant. Students can book a flight that arrives a day early and/or departs a day late. The Airport Hotel Bologna offers a shuttle service to the airport and has affordable rates. |
Facilities
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Concerts, masterclasses, and some lessons will take place in the Brancaleoni castle, a 13th-century castle standing proud in the shadow of Monte Nerone. Rooms for practicing, lessons, and coachings are located in the local high school. Outside concert venues are TBA.
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Scuola Arte e Cultura Appennino |
Interactive learning modules focusing on Italian language and culture will be provided by the instructors of the Scuola Arte e Cultura Appennino, totaling approximately 33 hours of instruction. Each instructor is a certified professional with a minimum of a Master's degree in Italian language studies who specializes in teaching Italian to non-native speakers. Each learning module will focus on a specific topic which will culminate in a hands-on activity, including making your own pasta and pizza, going shopping at the local market, and more! The cost of these classes is included in the cost of tuition for voice students.
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Currency |
The most efficient way to exchange currency is by withdrawing money from a local ATM using a major debit card (Visa, Mastercard, etc.). Traveler's checks are outdated, and students should not plan on using these as a method of payment when traveling abroad. Credit cards are also generally not accepted in the small stores and restaurants in Piobbico. Students will need to account for 350 or 480 EUR in cash for payment of the apartments (due during the first week of the festival), money for food and drinks, and spending money for day trips.
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Pre-college studentsVisa Requirements for Italy |
The festival welcomes applications from advanced pre-college students. Due to limited student accommodations, BIMF will only be able to provide stay for parents or guardians on a case by case basis. Underage students need to be able to stay and participate in the festival independently without supervision. The festival assumes no responsibility or liability over its participants.
Please visit the website of the Italian Embassy for current Visa requirements: http://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en
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