History
Orvieto Musica festival has enjoyed a rich legacy of excellence since its inception in 1993. The past decade Orvieto Musica has taken the stage as one of the most intimate, select and inspired chamber music festivals sharing regular concerts for appreciative audiences in the many exquisite venues. The extraordinary environment, steeped in natural and artistic beauty everywhere is an excellence-inspiring atmosphere for faculty and participants. Orvieto provides the time and space rarely possible in our normal professional lives, to expand artistry, dig in to virtuosity through daily master classes, meeting guest artists and international peers.
The 3-week festival exploits the best of the 12th through 21st century Italian culture with antique and contemporary art, architecture, cuisine, and concerts. Orvieto’s underground caves, nearby beaches, and unesco sites, the optional Italian language, Quantum Sound Therapy and culture classes all combine to create an unforgettable and unrepeatable festival.
Orvieto Musica has presented concerts across Umbria: in Bagnoregio, Calenzano, Capodimonte, Lubriano, Monteleone, Porano, Porretta Terme, Siena and Urbino, as well as in most venues in Orvieto and the USA.
Our expert, internationally respected faculty are frequent quests in many festivals worldwide. They are key to Orvieto Musica’s success. Daily they coach all OM participants and perform side by side with them, conducting masterclasses as they delve into the intimate instinctive and intuitive mystery of chamber music. Orvieto Musica’s faculty has included professionals affiliated with the Metropolitan Opera, the Bulgarian State Opera, Reina Sofía School of Music (Spain), Paris Conservatoire de Musique (France), Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and the Conservatorio di Mantova (Italy), Conservatoire de Musique de Genève (Switzerland), London Symphony Orchestra, American, Symphony Orchestra, the St. Louis Symphony, Florida State University, George Mason University, Hartt School of Music, Indiana University, Illinois University, Mannes College of Music (USA), McGill University (Canada), Spoleto (Italy), the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz (Austria), Dallas Brass, Cassatt String Quartet, Ensemble Fidelio and Stilleto Brass Quintet to name but a few.
Professor Kim Walker, bassoonist joined Orvieto Musica as Artistic and Executive Director in 2023. Kim began her career with a decade of orchestral experience in some of Europe’s finest orchestras (London Symphony, RAI Torino) and leading chamber music festivals (Marlboro, Prades, Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society among others). She has served as Dean at the University of Sydney and Director of Arts & Cultural Outreach for Indiana University. Founder and director of Orvieto Musica, conductor Nyela Basney concluded her thirty year tenure in July 2023. As we expand the faculty and international relations, Orvieto Musica is grateful to our donors, patrons, faculty and alumni who continue to inspire every aspect of the development of the festival. Join us and experience Orvieto Musica for yourself!
