THE FESTIVAL DEI DUE MONDI ACADEMY IS LAUNCHED
For the first time in its history, the Fondazione Festival dei Due Mondi establishes the Festival dei Due Mondi Academy, a new, high-level educational project dedicated to outstanding young classical musicians under the age of 35, officially opening the doors of the Festival dei Due Mondi to a new generation of performers from around the world.
With the Call for Applications for admission to the “Festival dei Due Mondi Academy – Advanced Musical Masterclasses” , the Foundation inaugurates an international advanced training programme that combines high-level study, concert practice, and an immersive experience at the heart of one of the world’s most prestigious international festivals.
“With the creation of the Festival dei Due Mondi Academy, the Foundation strengthens its international vocation and renews the Festival’s original mission,” says Artistic Director Daniele Cipriani. “Being a place of discovery, dialogue and growth for the talents of today and tomorrow is one of the fundamental objectives and values that will define the Festival’s new course. We cannot represent culture and serve as its interpreters on an international scale without addressing the theme of new generations and without a living commitment to training them and, even more importantly, supporting them over time.”
The Festival dei Due Mondi Academy will take place in Spoleto from 29 June to 12 July 2026, as part of the 69th edition of the Festival dei Due Mondi. The programme, entirely free of charge for the twenty selected musicians, is open to pianists, violinists, violists and cellists and includes an intensive schedule of educational activities structured around individual masterclasses, chamber music sessions, and public performances included in the Festival’s official programme.
A defining feature of the project is the exceptional calibre of the faculty, composed of internationally renowned musicians: Marc-André Hamelin, Benedetto Lupo, Giovanni Sollima, Kim Kashkashian, Marc Bouchkov and Andrea Obiso. It offers a rare opportunity to work closely with performers who represent absolute points of reference on the contemporary musical scene.
The project is coordinated by Massimo Spada, a distinguished figure in contemporary classical music, who will guide the young musicians through a path of artistic and professional development founded on a direct mentoring relationship between the Festival and emerging talents.
Alongside its educational dimension, the Academy offers a unique human and cultural experience: participants will be hosted free of charge by families in Spoleto, fostering an authentic exchange with the local community and creating an atmosphere of sharing that has always been an integral part of the Festival’s spirit. Study thus intertwines with the life of the Festival, allowing young musicians not only to refine their skills but also to perform on the stages of the Festival dei Due Mondi, experiencing the professional dimension of concert performance first-hand.
At the conclusion of the programme, the Spoleto Young Award will be established for the first time. This recognition will be awarded to the participant who stands out for talent, commitment and artistic potential. The prize consists of an artistic engagement contract for participation in the 70th edition of the Festival dei Due Mondi, marking a concrete transition from training to the beginning of a professional career.
The call is international and open to young musicians no older than 35 years of age.
The deadline for submitting applications is 15 April 2026 at 18:00 (Rome time).
The results of the selection will be published on the Festival website by 1 May 2026.
The full call and all information on how to apply are available on the Festival’s official website: www.festivaldispoleto.com
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