Ocarina Rave — International Music Camp

Ocarina Rave, the international ocarina camp

Ocarina Rave is an international residential gathering dedicated to the ocarina, the terracotta instrument that has made the Bolognese territory famous worldwide. Every year, in spring, the camp attracts musicians, students, and enthusiasts from various countries to Bentivoglio (Metropolitan City of Bologna, in Emilia-Romagna) for a few days of music, training, and artistic sharing. The initiative is promoted by the Cultural Association Il Temporale APS, directed by Marzia Baldassarri, and was inspired by maestro Emiliano Bernagozzi, an international ambassador of the ocarina.

The ocarina, a heritage of the Bolognese area

The ocarina is an oval-shaped wind instrument, invented in the 19th century in Budrio, a few kilometers from Bentivoglio. Since then, the ocarina tradition has become an identifying feature of this corner of the Emilian plain. Ocarina Rave was created precisely to pass on this musical heritage to new generations: the term "Rave", from the English "to rave" (to be enthusiastic), evokes the energy of a self-managed and open musical event, capable of engaging a young and dynamic audience.

Lessons, ensembles, and concerts

The camp's program combines study sessions with performance moments. The days are marked by:

• Daily lessons with guest masters, Italian and international;
• Joint rehearsals and ensemble work, to build the repertoire together;
• Concerts every evening, also open to the public;
• Exchange between different ocarina schools worldwide, from Italy to Japan.

The camp traditionally concludes with a grand final concert that brings together masters and students, often hosted in the Giulietta Masina Hall in San Giorgio di Piano, a few minutes from Bentivoglio.

An international event

Since its first edition in 2017, hosted at Villa Smeraldi, Ocarina Rave has had a strong international vocation, with the participation of Japanese and Korean ocarinists over the years. The camp is designed in both a residential format, with full accommodation and organization, and a non-residential format, with daily attendance. Ocarina Rave also coordinates with the International Ocarina Festival of Budrio, sharing its spirit and protagonists, offering participants a complete journey into the heart of Emilian-Romagnol ocarina culture.