Imagine a place where students study and perform side-by-side with legendary musicians like Misha Maisky, Paul Badura-Skoda, Viktor Tretiakov, Sergey Khachatryan, Mikhail Voskresensky, Dora Schwarzberg, Nikolai Lugansky, Zakhar Bron, Alexander Rudin, Natalia Gutman, Abbey Simon and many others, all in the breathtaking beauty of the Italian Alps, and you have imagined the Semper Music International Festival.

The Semper Music Festival hosted by the town of Brixen / Bressanone, Italy, is unique not only because of its spectacular location, but also because it offers a two-week intense schedule of private lessons, chamber music coachings, and master classes combined with over 20 professional and student concerts presented in the historic halls of South Tyrol. This exceptional experience gives participants an opportunity to significantly raise their professional level and further their careers through networking with established artists, along with gaining valuable performance experience. Additionally, the Semper Music Festival presents an International Competition to its participants in the areas of violin, viola, cello, voice, and piano with prizes of up to $1000.

The festival program consists not only of intensive training, practicing and performing, but also this year includes an exciting excursion to romantic Venice known for its canals, architecture, music, writers and film festival. Venice was the home of many noted composers during the baroque period, such as Antonio Vivaldi, Ippolito Ciera, Giovanni Picchi, and Girolamo Dalla Casa. Many films were partially filmed in Venice including The League of Extraordinary Gentleman, three James Bond films: From Russia with Love, Moonraker, and Casino Royale as well as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

Other excursions include:

• Trip to the Augustinian Abbey of Neustift, one of the most important monasteries in Tyrol, with its unique baroque church, famous Gothic panel paintings, medieval frescoes from the 14th century and a library with precious manuscripts.
• A guided Brixen city tour includes architectural highlights of the oldest town in Tyrol: Bishop’s Palace, Hofburg; Doumo di Bressanone, one of Italy’s most incredible cathedrals; famous arcades; White Tower of St. Michael parish church and more.
• A cable car ride with panoramic views to Mount Plose and a hiking/ walking tour leading over flower meadows, green alpine pastures and shady woods.

The Semper Music Festival is the kind of experience that leaves deep impressions upon its participants. Listening to live performances of outstanding artists and interacting with them daily creates an environment where ideas, performance and nature unite to bring renewed meaning and understanding to participants’ musical lives. It can also be the beginning of something unimagined as people from around the world meet, form friendships, and make music, as evidenced by four young talented musicians who once met at a previous Semper Music Festival, worked together, formed a common bond, and became the Völs String Quartet, and are now touring the United States.

And, you can’t visit such an idyllic town without taking time to enjoy all it has to offer! The recreation opportunities range from simply relaxing or walking in the surrounding areas and absorbing the mountain beauty, to climbing or riding the cable cars at the magnificent Plose mountain. And, if you like, you can swim in the nearby lake or relax in a sauna, pool, or steamroom at the Brixen / Bressanone Aquarena, all followed perhaps by a meal of Italian or Tyrolean fine cuisine at one of the local restaurants.

In a word, The Semper Music International Festival is a unique and transforming experience for its participants. Seldom in the world will you find quite such great artistry blended so perfectly with such great natural beauty.