Paolo Barrasso International Music Competition

An international competition in the spa town of Caramanico

The Paolo Barrasso International Music Competition is one of the most established musical events in inland Abruzzo. It takes place in Caramanico Terme, an elegant spa town in the province of Pescara nestled within the Majella National Park, at the entrance to the breathtaking Orfento Valley. The historic venue for the auditions and finals is the former Clarisse Convent in the town center, which transforms for several days into a live music laboratory open to the public.

The Marino da Caramanico Academy and the Orfento Valley Festival

The competition is promoted by the Marino da Caramanico Music Academy, an institution that has been enlivening the town's cultural life with a dense series of artistic initiatives since 1987. The "Barrasso" was born as the competitive heart of the Orfento Valley Festival, the long summer concert series that accompanies the town's tourist season: the winners of the various categories are selected to perform in the concert events of the following months, creating a direct bridge between the spring competition and the stages of the Abruzzo summer.

Who it is dedicated to

The event is named after Paolo Barrasso, a well-known biologist from Caramanico who tragically passed away during a mountain hike and was a fervent supporter of local musical activities. The competition keeps his memory alive by combining a passion for music with a love for the Majella territory.

Categories and participation

The competition is open to instrumentalists and composers, soloists and groups, with no limits on instruments or musical genres. An exclusive space is reserved for Italian students from Middle Schools with a Musical Focus and Musical High Schools, confirming the event's strong educational vocation. Each edition records an impressive turnout, with hundreds of candidates from numerous Italian regions and various European and non-European countries, including soloists, chamber ensembles, and youth orchestras.

• Where: Former Clarisse Convent, Caramanico Terme (PE), Abruzzo
• Organization: Marino da Caramanico Music Academy
• When: In the second half of May
• Admission: Free for the public wishing to attend the performances

An experience between music and nature

Attending the "Barrasso" means experiencing Caramanico Terme in one of its most beautiful seasons: spring, when the Orfento Valley is dressed in green and the town fills with young musicians. Between auditions, the village offers historic thermal baths, hiking trails, and the gastronomy of the Majella, for a stay that intertwines musical culture with the discovery of the Abruzzo region.