International Music Masterclass & Festival (IMMF)
International masterclasses and concerts in the baroque heart of Chiaramonte Gulfi
About IMMF
An international music festival in the Iblei Mountains
The International Music Masterclass & Festival, known as IMMF, is one of the most unique musical events in southeastern Sicily. Founded in 2010 and hosted in Chiaramonte Gulfi, an elegant baroque village in the Iblei Mountains in the province of Ragusa, the festival combines the educational focus of major international masterclasses with a widespread concert series that enlivens the entire month of August.
Masterclasses with world-renowned teachers
At the heart of the project are the masterclasses led by world-class instructors, which welcome young instrumentalists from dozens of countries every summer. The courses cover string and keyboard instruments—violin, viola, cello, and piano—as well as brass and woodwinds, with classes dedicated to trumpet, French horn, and saxophone. In the 2025 edition, the festival hosted approximately 125 students from 14 different nationalities, a testament to its truly international vocation.
Free concerts in the historic center
What makes the IMMF special is its nature as a widespread festival: every evening throughout August, teachers and students take to the stage for concerts open to the public with free admission. Performances animate the most evocative settings of Chiaramonte Gulfi's historic center—churches, historic palaces, squares, and the Teatro Comunale "Leonardo Sciascia"—turning the village into a continuous stage where great chamber music meets Iblean baroque architecture.
Chiaramonte Gulfi, the "Balcony of Sicily"
Overlooking the province of Ragusa from above, Chiaramonte Gulfi is nicknamed the "Balcony of Sicily" for its panoramic views that stretch to the sea and Mount Etna. The festival is set within a village rich in heritage, part of a territory that engages with the UNESCO-listed Sicilian baroque. The combination of excellent classical music and a stunning landscape makes the IMMF a unique experience for enthusiasts and visitors to Sicily.
Under the patronage of the Municipality
The festival takes place under the patronage of the Municipality of Chiaramonte Gulfi and is part of the Estate Chiaramontana program, helping to bring hundreds of young musicians and an international audience to the streets of the Iblean village every summer.
IMMF — edition 2026
IMMF 2026
The 2026 calendar confirms the formula that has made the festival famous: a full month of high-level musical training and widespread concerts in Chiaramonte Gulfi. The masterclasses are divided into several sessions: violin with Maria Milstein and Mathieu van Bellen, viola with Mikhail Zemtsov, cello with Timora Rosler, and piano with Serguei Milstein in the first part of the month; followed by woodwind and brass classes, with saxophone (Daniele Berdini), French horn (Hans van der Zanden), and two trumpet sessions led by, among others, Kristian Steenstrup, Sebastian Berner, Aleksander Kobus, Alex Cesare Elia, and William Castaldi.
As per tradition, students and teachers will perform in free evening concerts in the churches, squares, and the Teatro Comunale of the historic center.
Programme IMMF 2026
2026 Masterclasses
- Violin — Maria Milstein, Mathieu van Bellen (August 1-6)
- Viola — Mikhail Zemtsov (August 3-8)
- Cello — Timora Rosler (August 1-6)
- Piano — Serguei Milstein (August 1-6)
- Saxophone — Daniele Berdini (August 10-14)
- Trumpet — Aleksander Kobus, Alex Cesare Elia, William Castaldi (August 17-22)
- French Horn — Hans van der Zanden (August 18-22)
- Trumpet — Kristian Steenstrup, Sebastian Berner, William Castaldi (August 25-30)
Highlights IMMF 2026
- Masterclasses with world-renowned teachers
- Free evening concerts in the baroque historic center
- String, piano, brass, and woodwind instruments
Prices IMMF 2026
Practical information — IMMF
Getting there
Chiaramonte Gulfi can be reached by car via the SS194 and the provincial roads of the Iblei area; the nearest airports are Comiso (approx. 25 km) and Catania Fontanarossa (approx. 90 km). The reference railway station is Ragusa.
Admission
The festival's evening concerts are free of charge and held in the historic center. Masterclasses are reserved for enrolled students.
Information
Tourism Office of the Municipality of Chiaramonte Gulfi, tel. +39 0932 711257, e-mail [email protected]. Official website: immffestival.com.
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Where does it take place — IMMF
Centro storico di Chiaramonte Gulfi