Music Festival – 'Volere è Potere' Philharmonic

The Music Festival in Pontedera

The Music Festival is a European event that fills squares and streets with free concerts every year around the summer solstice on June 21st. In Pontedera, located in the heart of the Valdera area in the province of Pisa, the celebration features the historic 'Volere è Potere' Philharmonic, one of the longest-running and most beloved wind bands in Tuscany, active for nearly two centuries.

A week of music in the city

The Pontedera edition is more than just a single evening: over several days, the city hosts multiple concerts in Piazza del Duomo and other central locations, involving numerous local musical groups. These include the Accademia Musicale Pontedera, the Corale Città di Pontedera, the youth orchestra, and the Glenn Gould Academy, all testifying to the town's vibrant musical tradition.

'Un ponte di note': the heart of the festival

The most anticipated moment is the grand evening concert in Piazza del Duomo, titled 'Un ponte di note'. This project sees the 'Volere è Potere' Philharmonic invite a guest ensemble each year to create a musical encounter that culminates in one large orchestra on stage. Following the 2025 international twinning with the Roquetes-Nou Barris band from Barcelona, the theme continues by bringing together diverse musical entities in a dialogue of notes.

A popular and free event

The Pontedera Music Festival is a free-entry event designed to engage families, enthusiasts, and curious visitors alike. The setting of Piazza del Duomo, in the heart of the historic center, serves as a natural stage for evenings where the band becomes a tool for community and popular celebration.

Pontedera and its band tradition

Known throughout Italy as the city of Piaggio and the Vespa, Pontedera also preserves a deep-rooted musical culture. The 'Volere è Potere' Philharmonic represents a piece of the city's identity, and its participation in the Music Festival confirms the cultural dynamism of the town within the Tuscany landscape. It is an opportunity to discover the Valdera area through live music on one of the most evocative evenings of the Pisan summer.