Borgo in Musica

An open-air music academy in the heart of the Nebrodi mountains

Borgo in Musica is one of the longest-running and most prestigious music festivals in the Nebrodi area. It takes place every summer in San Marco d'Alunzio, an ancient village in the province of Messina, nestled in the heart of the Nebrodi Park and just a few kilometers from the Tyrrhenian coast. Established in 2011, the festival has successfully transformed the alleys, churches, and monumental spaces of the town into a true international stage, reaching its fifteenth edition in 2025.

Training, masterclasses, and campus sessions

More than just a concert series, Borgo in Musica is a hub for live music and advanced training. For about a month and a half, from July to early September, San Marco d'Alunzio becomes an open-air summer academy: over two hundred students arrive from all over Italy and abroad to attend masterclasses, campus sessions, and seminars led by prominent international musicians. In recent years, the village has hosted teachers such as Patrick Messina, Daniel Thomas, Simon Diricq, Julien Beaudiment, Gorka Hermosa, and Roberto Basile, with a special focus on clarinet, bass clarinet, wind instruments, and ensemble music.

Competitions and the Borgo in Musica Prize

The festival hosts national competitions, particularly for clarinet and bass clarinet, offering scholarships and prestigious performance opportunities. At the heart of the project is the Borgo in Musica Prize, which for over a decade has championed young talent by offering them the chance to perform in major concert seasons, thanks in part to a collaboration with the Accademia Filarmonica di Messina. Past winners include flutists, saxophonists, clarinetists, and percussionists who have since gone on to have brilliant artistic careers.

Notti al Castello and concerts

Alongside the educational program, evening events bring the village to life with public concerts. The 'Notti al Castello' series features string quartets, wind ensembles, solo recitals, and productions such as 'Peter and the Wolf' with a narrator and orchestra. Performances are held in the evocative settings of San Marco d'Alunzio's historic center, among squares, monuments, and outdoor spaces that provide a natural backdrop for the music.

A village to discover

Visiting Borgo in Musica also means discovering one of the most beautiful villages in Sicily: San Marco d'Alunzio preserves churches, palaces, and a characteristic pink stone that make it a fascinating destination in the Messina hinterland. The event thus combines a passion for classical music with the promotion of the historical heritage and the Nebrodi territory, in a formula that attracts students, artists, and enthusiasts from all over Italy every year.