Sicilian Parish Choir Festival
Two days of sacred music and choral tradition at the Church of San Teodoro
About Sicilian Parish Choirs
A festival dedicated to Sicilian choral singing
The Sicilian Parish Choir Festival is a musical event held annually in Casalvecchio Siculo, a small town in the province of Messina overlooking the Sicilian Ionian coast. The event brings together parish choirs from all over Sicily, providing them with a shared stage to showcase their repertoire and celebrate the island's liturgical and folk singing traditions together.
The setting of the Church of San Teodoro
Performances take place inside the Church of San Teodoro, a place of worship and a symbol of identity for Casalvecchio Siculo, whose acoustics and intimate atmosphere perfectly complement the voices of the choirs. The festival spans two consecutive evenings, during which various choirs take turns in a program that ranges from sacred hymns to traditional folk music.
Objectives and spirit of the event
Created with the aim of valuing and networking the many Sicilian parish choral groups, the festival promotes cultural exchange, artistic growth, and the dissemination of the musical heritage linked to liturgical and folk singing. Each year, it gathers choirs from various cities and towns across the island, from Palermo to Catania, from Messina to Milazzo, and even smaller towns on the Ionian coast like Santa Teresa di Riva.
Organization
The event is promoted by the Municipality of Casalvecchio Siculo in collaboration with the Scuola Corpo Musicale Città di Casalvecchio and the Regional Association of Sicilian Choirs, presided over by Stefano Trimboli. The event also benefits from the collaboration of the local parish and community associations, in a project that weaves together music, faith, and local identity.
A local landmark event
The festival is one of the most anticipated cultural events of the Casalvecchio summer and helps establish Casalvecchio Siculo as a reference point for sacred choral music in Sicily. Participation is open to the public with free admission, creating a festive atmosphere that unites residents, the faithful, and music lovers from across the region.
Sicilian Parish Choirs — edition 2026
5th edition: June 20-21, 2026
The fifth edition of the Sicilian Parish Choir Festival was held in Casalvecchio Siculo on Saturday, June 20, and Sunday, June 21, 2026, inside the Church of San Teodoro. The two evenings saw the participation of numerous parish choral groups from various cities and towns in Sicily, including Palermo, Catania, Messina, Milazzo, and Santa Teresa di Riva.
The «Casalis Vetus» Award
The novelty of the 2026 edition was the establishment of the «Casalis Vetus» award, presented for the first time during the opening evening on June 20. The recognition honored two figures who distinguished themselves in promoting the identity and traditions of Casalvecchio Siculo: a local personality committed to community life and a figure linked to the town by family and cultural roots.
Organization
The event was organized by the Municipality of Casalvecchio Siculo together with the Scuola Corpo Musicale Città di Casalvecchio and the Regional Association of Sicilian Choirs, presided over by Stefano Trimboli.
Programme Sicilian Parish Choirs 2026
Program
The festival was spread over two evenings, Saturday, June 20, and Sunday, June 21, 2026, at the Church of San Teodoro. During the performances, participating parish choirs from various Sicilian cities (Palermo, Catania, Messina, Milazzo, Santa Teresa di Riva, and other towns on the island) took turns on stage. During the opening evening on June 20, the «Casalis Vetus» award was presented for the first time to two individuals with ties to the town.
Highlights Sicilian Parish Choirs 2026
- Fifth edition of the festival
- Parish choirs from all over Sicily
- First edition of the «Casalis Vetus» award
- Performances in the historic Church of San Teodoro
- Free admission
Prices Sicilian Parish Choirs 2026
Practical information — Sicilian Parish Choirs
How to get there
Casalvecchio Siculo is located in the province of Messina, on the Ionian coast. By car, it can be reached via the A18 Messina-Catania motorway, taking the Roccalumera-Mandanici exit and continuing inland. The nearest train station is Santa Teresa di Riva, on the Messina-Siracusa line, from where you can continue by car.
Venue
Performances are held in the Church of San Teodoro, in the center of Casalvecchio Siculo.
Admission
Admission to the festival is free.
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Where does it take place — Sicilian Parish Choirs
Chiesa di San Teodoro