Portus Naonis International Clarinet Festival

Pordenone, capital of the clarinet

"Portus Naonis" is the ancient Latin name for Pordenone, and it is in this city that the clarinet finds its international celebration every year. The Portus Naonis International Clarinet Festival, organized by the SiNota - Scuola di Musica Città di Pordenone association, has grown in just a few years to become a benchmark event for clarinetists worldwide: hundreds of participants, semi-finalists from multiple continents, and a high-profile jury.

International competitions and great masters

The heart of the festival lies in the international competitions: the solo competition, the composition competition for clarinet ensembles, and, in more recent editions, a junior competition dedicated to the very young. The jury for the solo competition is led by legendary figures of the instrument, such as Sabine Meyer, the first female clarinetist of the Berliner Philharmoniker. Alongside the competitions, masterclasses, finalist concerts, and orchestral productions enrich the program.

The clarinet takes to the streets

One of the festival's most beloved innovations is the Buskers Clarinet Festival: for two days, the historic center of Pordenone is filled with street clarinetists performing jazz, world music, and folk, bringing the instrument out of concert halls and among the people. Venues such as the Casa della Musica, the Ex Convento di San Francesco, the Museo Civico d'Arte, and the city's squares host the various events.

A celebration for the city

Promoted with the support of the Municipality of Pordenone and the Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the festival contributes to building the musical identity of a city that will be the Italian Capital of Culture in 2027. For enthusiasts, students, and the curious, Portus Naonis is an opportunity to hear the clarinet in all its variations, from the most challenging classical repertoire to the most surprising fusions.