International Academy of Music Festival

A festival of music and landscapes in Garfagnana

The International Academy of Music Festival is one of the longest-running musical events in northern Tuscany. Established in 2003, it reaches its 24th edition in 2026. The festival takes place in the municipality of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana and spreads across the villages of the Garfagnana valley, in the Province of Lucca, nestled at the foot of the Apuan Alps and the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. For two weeks, the valley becomes a sprawling stage where music engages with the local historical heritage and mountain landscapes.

Classical and jazz in twenty concerts

The heart of the festival is a program of twenty concerts alternating between great classical repertoire and sophisticated jazz. The opening night, Saturday, June 27, at the Duomo of Castelnuovo, features the "Laudes creaturarum" concert with the Coro Del Corona, a string quintet, and piano. The following days highlight jazz with celebrations for the centennial of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, including lectures, the Giacomo Ciardi Trio, the Quartetto Lorenzo De Finti, the Tin Trio Tindiglia, and the Italian-Chinese ensemble Decode Jazz 4tet.

Recitals, tributes, and renowned performers

Highly anticipated events include the tribute to Ennio Morricone by the Ensemble Opera Viwa, a recital by pianist Antonio Pompa-Baldi at the Teatro Alfieri, a recital by young pianist Jakob Aumiller at Villa Collemandina, and a performance of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" by the festival's string orchestra in the charming church of Ceserana. Numerous concerts by Academy faculty and students also take place, making the festival a true laboratory for advanced international musical training.

A valley to discover, concert by concert

Venues change every night, guiding the audience through the territory: in addition to Castelnuovo, concerts are hosted in the municipalities of Gallicano, San Romano in Garfagnana, Pieve Fosciana, Minucciano, Villa Collemandina, and the village of Gramolazzo. Churches, villas, farmhouses, and auditoriums become intimate and unique listening spaces where musical quality meets the beauty of the surroundings.

Organization and identity

The festival is organized by the Scuola Civica di Musica di Castelnuovo di Garfagnana in collaboration with the Municipality of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, with the patronage of the Tuscany Region, the Province of Lucca, the Union of Garfagnana Municipalities, and the Apuan Alps Park. Most concerts are free to attend; some special events, paired with a glass of wine or dinner, require a ticket. Reservations are recommended for many evening concerts.