Symphonia – Summer Prelude (Banda Sociale di Ala)

Symphonia: Wind band music in the heart of Ala

Symphonia is the summer music festival promoted by the Banda Sociale di Ala, one of the oldest wind ensembles in Trentino, founded in 1882 to 'promote the art of music, and in particular, the band culture'. Every year, between late May and June, the event brings the historic center of the Municipality of Ala, in the province of Trento, Trentino-Alto Adige, to life, transforming the courtyards of baroque palaces into refined open-air stages.

Masterclasses and advanced musical training

The Symphonia project is more than just a concert series; it is, above all, a path of advanced musical education. The festival hosts advanced masterclasses dedicated to wind instruments, led by nationally and internationally renowned teachers. Past editions have featured musicians such as Marina Boselli (euphonium), Marco Pierobon and Francesco Gibellini (trumpet), Nilo Caracristi (horn), Stefano Ammannati (tuba), and Gianluca Scipioni (trombone), with the participation of the famous Gomalan Brass Quintet. The lessons are open to both active students and auditors, and are aimed at individual instrumentalists as well as established ensembles.

Concerts in historic courtyards

The public heart of the festival consists of the free-admission evenings hosted in the courtyards of the noble palaces of Ala, a city that owes its historical wealth to the production of velvet. Concerts are typically held at 8:30 PM in venues such as the Courtyard of Palazzo Taddei and the Courtyard of Palazzo Malfatti-Scherer. The closing concert, titled 'Summer Prelude', features the Banda Sociale di Ala accompanied by guest soloists and marks the symbolic opening of the summer season.

A Trentino band heritage

With over 140 years of activity, the Banda Sociale di Ala represents an important pillar of the Trentino band tradition, where musical bands have always been a hub of social life and culture in local communities. Symphonia thus combines the promotion of this heritage with an openness toward young musicians and world-class masters.

Why attend

• Free concerts in the baroque courtyards of Ala's historic center
• Advanced masterclasses for wind instruments with prestigious teachers
• The 'Summer Prelude' concert featuring the band and guest soloists
• An immersion into the Trentino band tradition and the atmosphere of the 'City of Velvet'