Cortona Contemporary Music Festival

The Cortona Contemporary Music Festival offers performers the opportunity to collaborate with living composers. Each participant is assigned a new work, of which they will give the world premiere performance at the festival. In addition to private lessons and masterclasses with instrumental faculty, performers will also receive coachings with faculty and guest composers*. Interested participants will also be assigned to a chamber group for performances at the festival.

Opportunities to gain experience in new music at Cortona are virtually limitless. Performer/composer coachings, faculty rehearsals, and meetings of the Composer Colloquium are all open to participants in performance studies. Daily workshops discuss performance techniques, repertoire, career planning, and networking. Evening concerts feature faculty and distinguished guest artists, with final performances of the festival reserved for participant performers.

While the program is primarily orientated toward undergraduate and graduate aged university students, interested individuals (younger/older) with performance experience in piano, flute, violin, or guitar are encouraged to apply. Applicants must submit a CD recording featuring live, un-edited performances of two contrasting works. Repertoire of any period is acceptable, and should reflect the applicant's current level of ability. The purpose of this recording is to aid us in assigning an appropriate piece for performance at the festival. A limited number of partial scholarships are available.

*All pieces assigned for performance at the festival are submitted by composers from around the world. We make every attempt to assign works by composers in attendance at the festival; however this is not possible in every instance. All pieces selected for performance at the festival reflect a high degree of quality and craft. Please view information on past performances by clicking on the "2006 Festival" link above. Faculty will also coach prepared repertoire of earlier periods (1700-1900s) in private lessons and masterclasses.