Cilento International Music Festival & Competition

An international festival in the heart of Cilento

The Cilento International Music Festival & Competition is an annual summer event that brings world-class classical music to Torchiara, a charming hillside village in the Province of Salerno, nestled in the heart of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park in Campania. More than just a concert series, the festival integrates advanced training, competition, and performance into a single calendar, attracting professional musicians, advanced students, and young talents from various countries.

The Palazzo Baronale De Conciliis, the heart of the event

All activities are centered at the Palazzo Baronale De Conciliis, a historic residence that overlooks the village of Torchiara and serves as the festival's natural home. Its halls host daytime masterclasses, evening concerts in the Concert Hall, musical lectures, and the international competition rounds. This setting adds a unique dimension to the experience: studying and performing in a historic palace overlooking the Cilento hills offers an atmosphere far removed from a traditional conservatory classroom.

Masterclasses and advanced training

The educational component is the driving force of the festival. The masterclasses are open to all levels and ages, covering a wide range of disciplines from strings and woodwinds to guitar, piano, chamber music, and orchestral conducting. The faculty consists of concert performers and conservatory professors with international careers. The artistic direction is led by Luciano Tortorelli, a concert guitarist and professor at the Giuseppe Martucci Conservatory in Salerno, and Rebecca Taio, a concert performer and chamber musician based in Vienna.

• Individual lessons with master faculty
• Thematic masterclasses and ensemble music
• Lectures and discussions on musical topics
• Student concerts at the end of the program

The International Competition

Alongside the courses, the Competition—the event's namesake—takes place. It is divided into several categories designed to accommodate both young beginners and established musicians, with sections dedicated to soloists, chamber music, and orchestral conducting. Winners receive diplomas and special awards, as well as the opportunity to perform in the final gala concert, providing many participants with their first experience performing before an international audience.

Evening concerts open to the public

In the evenings, the festival opens its doors to the community. The gala concerts in the Palazzo Baronale's Concert Hall are open to the public, featuring a mix of recitals by faculty and international guests, as well as performances by students and competition winners. The repertoire ranges from classical guitar and chamber music to traditional Campanian music, in a program that changes annually while maintaining a strong international focus.

Music and the territory

The Municipality of Torchiara has supported the event since its inception, recognizing its cultural and tourism value. The festival brings musicians and their families from all over the world to the village in the height of summer, highlighting a part of the Cilento region that is primarily known for its coastal tourism. The musical program is complemented by guided excursions to discover the Cilento area, including its hillside villages, the National Park's nature, and Mediterranean cuisine—of which Cilento is considered the birthplace. Music, landscape, and hospitality combine to create an experience that extends far beyond the concert hall.