Organ
June 13 – July 3, 2027
Organ Intensive
For Organists in Liturgical and Concert Study
Few organists — however advanced — have trained or performed on a mechanical-action instrument to master the articulation that built the foundation of Western keyboard music. This 3-week intensive in Orvieto closes that gap.
Experience an instrument found almost nowhere else. Train on Italy’s late-Renaissance and early-Baroque organs — smaller, mean-tone tuned, fully mechanical instruments where your finger controls the airflow to every pipe. The touch is the technique.
Learn the articulation that built Western keyboard music. Under Riccardo Bonci, resident organist of the Duomo di Orvieto, work the fine edge between staccato and legato that lets a fugue speak in four distinct voices instead of dissolving into “marmellata” — jelly. This is the foundation Bach drew from Frescobaldi and his contemporaries, and it’s rarely taught with this depth of application anywhere else.
Perform in the setting that shaped this repertoire. Featured lunchtime recital on the Duomo di Orvieto’s 16th-century organ, plus collaborative performances with singers, choirs, and chamber orchestra — in one of Italy’s most iconic medieval cities.
Go beyond technique. Weekly coaching and masterclasses covering historical tuning, rhetorical phrasing (how a lament trembles, how joy stays even), liturgical performance practice, and the artistic and political skills required to hold a Cathedral organ position.
Live it, not just study it. Language classes and festival excursions immerse you in the culture that produced this music.
Organ Faculty
Riccardo Bonci
Artist-Faculty
Resident Organist
Duomo di Orvieto
The Grand Organ of the Duomo
With its intricately carved façade, golden mosaics, and soaring columns, the Duomo di Orvieto stands as one of Italy’s most majestic expressions of Gothic and early Renaissance design. Within this architectural masterpiece resides a rare musical treasure: the cathedral’s historic organ, suspended high above the entrance to the Chapel of the Corporal in the left transept.
Originally constructed between 1583 and 1588, the instrument has been thoughtfully expanded and restored across centuries. Notable updates include the addition of pneumatic transmission in the early 20th century, electrification and a mobile console by Carlo Vegezzi-Bossi in 1911, and a significant enhancement by Libero Rino Pinchi in 1974. These layers of innovation have created an organ of remarkable depth—one that blends historical character with modern versatility.
Today, the instrument features three 61-note manuals, a 32-note pedalboard, and 72 speaking stops across more than 5,500 pipes. It is capable of rendering repertoire from the Renaissance through the Romantic era and beyond, with a tonal breadth that speaks to both tradition and experimentation.
Participants of the Organ Intensive have the rare privilege of rehearsing and performing on this extraordinary instrument. For many, it is not only a technical milestone, but a deeply meaningful artistic encounter—one that becomes a defining part of their time in Orvieto.
Festival Details
What’s Included?
Your festival fee provides a three-week residency in Orvieto, with the essential elements of daily and artistic life thoughtfully arranged. The intention is simple: less time managing logistics, more time for music, discovery, and the people with whom you will create it.
Artistic Work and Guidance
Music is at the center of the residency. Participants receive individual lessons, masterclasses, specialized coachings, and dedicated rehearsal time with collaborative pianists. Italian language sessions and all master classes—including the tour to underground caves—are part of the curriculum.
Living in Orvieto
Participants live in centrally located, double-occupancy apartments within walking distance of rehearsals, performances, cafés, and the historic center. Each day begins with breakfast at a local caffè, with additional meals arranged through neighborhood restaurants.
Arrival and Shared Experiences
Private coach transportation connects Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) with Orvieto at the beginning and end of the residency. Festival transportation is also arranged for shared activities and excursions, including a day at Lago di Bolsena, one of Europe’s iconic volcanic lakes.
Spaces and Resources
Participants have access to rehearsal rooms and pianos, the Orvieto Musica digital library, wireless internet, and the materials needed for their festival work. Required music licensing fees are covered by Orvieto Musica.
The Practical Details
Apartments receive weekly professional cleaning. The city tax and key deposits are included in the festival fee. Local medical care is readily available should it be needed. Participants receive complimentary admission to Orvieto Musica concerts and events, along with selected discounts from partner businesses throughout the city.
Professional Recordings
Festival performances are professionally captured in stereo audio and high-definition video. Participants receive access to the Orvieto Musica recording archive, with festival recordings made available within 90 days of the close of the season—and often sooner. Professional photos are also available within 7 days after the festival.
Should you wish, you can reserve additional services at additional cost for professional recordings or photo sessions during the festival at highly discounted rates with AndrewClarskonMedia productions.
Airfare to and from Italy is not included in the festival fee.
Program Fees
Organ Program + Shared Housing: $4,700
Organ Program + Private Room Upgrade: $5,900
Please note that the above pricing is guaranteed only until March 1, 2026. Enrollments after this date will be subject to additional surcharges.
Bring A Guest
Share Orvieto with Someone You Love
Family, friends, and partners are warmly invited to join you in Orvieto for part—or all—of the Festival. Guest arrangements are available for stays of one to three weeks and include accommodation, meals and scheduled airport transfers from Rome.
La Dolce Vita
For those who would like to experience Orvieto more deeply, La Dolce Vita offers a curated week of language, culture, and discovery—Italian classes, guided excursions, private tastings, artisan experiences, and time to enjoy the rhythms of Umbrian life.
Scholarships
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, scholarship support is available for the Organ Program participant.
Awards are limited and considered as applications are reviewed. Priority consideration will be given to applications received by December 31.
BRING YOUR ARTISTRY TO ORVIETO
We invite you to apply for the 2027 Season by December 31. There is no application fee.
Choose two contrasting works that reveal not only how you play, but something of who you are as an artist. There is no required repertoire; we welcome contrast, character, curiosity, and musical imagination.
Recording Guidelines: Submit up to 15 minutes of music in total. Recordings should be uploaded to YouTube as unlisted or public links. You may include one or two links with your application.
What’s Next?
Once accepted, please secure your place by submitting your Festival Registration Form and deposit by January 21. The remaining balance is due by March 15.
On June 13, Orvieto Musica’s chartered bus will meet participants at Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) for the journey to Orvieto. Please plan to depart June 12 and arrive at FCO no later than June 13 11:30 AM CET. On arrival in Orvieto, you will be welcomed by your apartment hosts and introduced to the city that will be home for the next three weeks.
For your return on July 3, please book departing flights no earlier than 12:30 PM CET to allow time for the chartered transfer from Orvieto to FCO.
Complete travel guidance, key dates, forms, and planning information are available in the OM Portal, your central resource as you prepare for the season ahead.