Mater Jubilaei
The sacred and choral music gathering in Melizzano, in the heart of the Sannio region
About Mater Jubilaei
A singing town in the Sannio
Some festivals are measured by the number of stages, others by the number of voices. Mater Jubilaei belongs to the latter: for a few days in August, the Municipality of Melizzano—a village of just over a thousand souls nestled in the hills of the Sannio, in the province of Benevento, Campania—fills with singers arriving by bus from all over Italy. Rehearsals drift from open windows, churches turn into practice halls, and by evening, Piazza Roma is packed to the last available seat.
Born in the Jubilee Year
The festival is young: the first edition took place in August 2025, conceived in the spirit of the Holy Year as a choral tribute to the Virgin Mary, seen as the Mother of the Jubilee—hence the Latin title Mater Jubilaei. The idea comes from Maestro Marco Rosiello, a tenor and conductor who serves as the promoter, organizer, and artistic director. The event is intertwined with the town's devotional calendar, tied to the feast of the Madonna della Libera, and has received the moral patronage of the Diocese of Cerreto Sannita-Telese-Sant'Agata de' Goti, with the support of Chorus Inside Campania.
The Grand Choral Concert
This is the moment everyone waits for and the reason it is worth traveling to Melizzano. At dusk in Piazza Roma, the guest choirs and the local ensemble merge into a single body: in 2025 there were over 130 singers, and in 2026 that number exceeds 150, accompanied by a live orchestra and soloists from the Choir of the Diocese of Rome. The repertoire features sacred polyphony and liturgical music, alternating Marian devotion with emotionally resonant pieces that often have the audience standing and singing along. Those who were there still talk about the trail of colorful scarves waved by the singers as a Jubilee sign: a detail that perfectly captures the event's participatory spirit.
Beyond the concert: workshops and liturgy
The less visible part is what sustains everything else. The program includes:
- Eucharistic celebrations animated by the guest choirs, who are not mere background but an integral part of the rite;
- Workshops on vocal technique, conducting, and repertoire, open to registered singers;
- Open rehearsals in the square, which can be followed freely and are, for many curious onlookers, the most beautiful surprise;
- Convivial moments in the evenings, where the festival becomes an exchange between singers from different regions.
It is this alternation—study, prayer, dining, and concert—that the organizers summarize by defining Mater Jubilaei as "a journey of faith and formation" rather than a simple festival.
The "Madonna della Libera" Polyphonic Choir
The festival is the child of a deeply rooted local reality. The Madonna della Libera Polyphonic Choir was founded in Melizzano in 2008 at the initiative of Marco Rosiello and held its first concert on August 5, 2009, during the celebrations for the Madonna della Libera, from which it takes its name. Initially formed by young people and children, it opened up to adult singers from the community in 2018, expanding its liturgical service and concert activity. Today, it brings its voice beyond the Sannio, with performances in Campania and other regions.
Why it is worth the trip
Mater Jubilaei is a great reason to discover a corner of Campania untouched by mass tourism: the Telesina Valley, the vineyards of Aglianico and Falanghina del Sannio, the stone villages between Melizzano, Dugenta, and Frasso Telesino, and the thermal baths of Telese just a few kilometers away. It is a festival without divas or hype, where the main attraction is the sound of 150 people breathing together in a town square: one of those experiences that explains the popular and religious culture of Southern Italy better than any guidebook.
Mater Jubilaei — edition 2026
Mater Jubilaei 2026: the second edition
Following the debut in 2025, Mater Jubilaei returns to Melizzano, in the province of Benevento, with a broader structure: three days spread over the first week of August and a choral ensemble exceeding 150 members. The artistic direction remains entrusted to Maestro Marco Rosiello, while the organization is handled by the Madonna della Libera Polyphonic Choir of Melizzano, with the moral patronage of the Diocese of Cerreto Sannita-Telese-Sant'Agata de' Goti and the support of Chorus Inside Campania.
Opening with the Auxiliary Bishop of Rome
The edition opens on Monday, August 3, with the welcome of the choirs and, at 6:00 PM, the Eucharistic Celebration animated by all the participating groups and officiated by H.E. Monsignor Alessandro Zenobbi, Auxiliary Bishop of Rome. This is followed by general rehearsals and a convivial moment that marks the beginning of the shared journey.
Days of formation
On Thursday, August 6, and Friday, August 7, the program alternates workshops for registered singers with liturgical moments: on Thursday, the Eucharistic Celebration is animated by the "Santa Maria Maggiore" Choir of Mineo, arriving from Sicily. On Friday afternoon, after the arrival of the final choirs, the rehearsal in Piazza Roma is open to those who wish to attend.
The Grand Choral Concert
The highlight is Friday, August 7, at 8:30 PM in Piazza Roma: over 150 singers and a live orchestra for a program of sacred polyphony and liturgical music dedicated to the Virgin Mary, enriched by the solo voices of Mariangela Topa and Rossella Mirabelli from the Choir of the Diocese of Rome. The town square transforms into a large open-air concert hall: those who want a seat should arrive well in advance.
Programme Mater Jubilaei 2026
Monday, August 3, 2026
- 5:30 PM — Welcome and greetings to the choirs
- 6:00 PM — Eucharistic Celebration animated by all choirs, officiated by H.E. Monsignor Alessandro Zenobbi, Auxiliary Bishop of Rome
- 6:45 PM — General rehearsals
- 9:00 PM — Brief convivial moment
Thursday, August 6, 2026
- 5:30 PM — Workshops and labs
- 7:00 PM — Eucharistic Celebration animated by the "Santa Maria Maggiore" Choir of Mineo (Sicily)
Friday, August 7, 2026
- 4:30 PM — Arrival of the choirs
- 5:00 PM — Workshops and labs
- 6:30 PM — Rehearsal in Piazza Roma
- 8:00 PM — Brief convivial moment
- 8:30 PM — Grand Choral Concert in Piazza Roma: over 150 singers and live orchestra, conducted by Maestro Marco Rosiello, with sopranos Mariangela Topa and Rossella Mirabelli from the Choir of the Diocese of Rome
Highlights Mater Jubilaei 2026
- Grand Choral Concert, Friday, August 7 at 8:30 PM in Piazza Roma: over 150 singers and live orchestra
- Opening Eucharistic Celebration officiated by H.E. Monsignor Alessandro Zenobbi, Auxiliary Bishop of Rome
- Guest choirs from Campania, Lazio, Puglia, Calabria, and Sicily
- Soloists Mariangela Topa and Rossella Mirabelli from the Choir of the Diocese of Rome
- Workshops on choral singing on August 6 and 7
- Celebration animated by the "Santa Maria Maggiore" Choir of Mineo, from Sicily
- Open rehearsal in Piazza Roma on August 7 at 6:30 PM
Prices Mater Jubilaei 2026
Practical information — Mater Jubilaei
Getting there
By car: Melizzano can be reached via the SS 372 "Telesina" road, which connects the Caianello exit (A1 Rome-Naples) to Benevento; continue on the provincial road towards Melizzano-Dugenta. The historic center is small: it is best to leave your car in the parking areas at the entrance to the town and reach Piazza Roma on foot.
By train: the nearest station is Telese Terme-Cerreto Sannita, on the Caserta-Benevento line; from there, a car or taxi transfer is required (there are few bus connections in the evening).
By plane: Naples-Capodichino Airport is about an hour's drive away.
Times and tickets
The Grand Choral Concert takes place in Piazza Roma starting at 8:30 PM. The organizers have not announced ticket prices or presale channels: the Eucharistic celebrations and the rehearsal in the square are freely accessible.
Tips
- Arrive at least half an hour before the concert: seating in the square is limited and fills up quickly.
- August evenings in the inland Sannio can be cool: a light sweater is useful.
- For choirs interested in participating in future editions, registration must be arranged in advance with the artistic direction.
Where to stay and eat
Accommodation options in Melizzano are minimal: you can find agritourisms and B&Bs in the nearby towns of the Telesina Valley (Telese Terme, Dugenta, Frasso Telesino, Sant'Agata de' Goti). It is the perfect opportunity for a food and wine stop: Falanghina and Aglianico del Sannio, olive oil, cheeses, and the traditional Benevento peasant cuisine.
Contacts
Coro Polifonico Madonna della Libera di Melizzano — [email protected] — tel. +39 366 2336100 — www.coromadonnadellalibera.it
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Where does it take place — Mater Jubilaei
Piazza Roma
Piazza Roma, 82030 Melizzano