Tuba & Euphonium
June 21 – June 28, 2026
Tuba-Euphonium Fest
For Chamber-Focused Low Brass Artists
The Tuba-Euphonium Fest is a 1-week chamber music seminar designed to launch undergraduate and graduate tuba and euphonium players into a professionally paced festival performance experience. TubaFest participants refine their synergy and artistry while immersed in the culture of one of Italy’s most iconic and historic medieval cities.
Featured recital for TubaFest participants and faculty, including the annual TubaFest Fanfare performance, one of Orvieto’s favorite spectacles of the smmer.
Collaborative performances with pianists, vocalists, and other festival musicians.
Elite mentorship and masterclasses with daily coaching by distinguished faculty and guest artists.
Expand your repertoire with innovative programming from Baroque through contemporary.
Retreat into the Italian lifestyle with language classes and festival excursions.
Faculty
Velvet Brown
Program Director
Tuba
Penn State University
Peabody Institute
The Art of Low Brass in Orvieto
Founded in 2024 by Professor Velvet Brown, the Tuba-Euphonium Fest brings together gifted low brass players and internationally respected faculty for a week of chamber music, mentorship, and focused study in the hilltop city of Orvieto. A celebrated soloist and orchestral musician, Professor Brown is a member of the faculties at The Pennsylvania State University and the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. Under her direction, the program has quickly established itself as a cornerstone of the Orvieto Musica season.
Each year, the Tuba-Euphonium Fest welcomes an international lineup of guest faculty from leading institutions including the University of Toronto, University of Iowa, Jackson State University, UC Sacramento, and Konservatorij Ljubljana. The schedule includes daily warmups, masterclasses, ensemble rehearsals, and opportunities for performance and exchange with other festival artists.
In 2025, the Tuba-Euphonium Fest held a residency at the Teatro Mancinelli, with more than thirty participants and faculty gathering for a full week of concerts and chamber work.
One of the festival’s most beloved traditions is the Tuba-Euphonium Fanfare, performed in the Piazza della Repubblica, where sound and setting meet in a celebration that welcomes the city into the music.
Participation is open to individual players, pre-formed ensembles, and university-affiliated studios.
Leonard Bernstein
Overture to Candide
James Barnes
Yorkshire Ballad
Isabella Leonarda
Sonata Duodecima in D Minor
Festival Details
What’s Included?
Your festival fee provides a one-week residency in Orvieto designed to support both your artistry and your well-being. Every element—from instruction to housing—has been thoughtfully arranged so you can focus fully on music, culture, and connection.
Artistic Work and Guidance:
At the heart of the residency is music. Participants receive masterclasses and specialized coachings with faculty, together with Italian language sessions. All Institute classes, including the Communication Group studio course, are part of the curriculum.
Housing and Meals:
Participants are housed in centrally located, double-occupancy apartments, providing a comfortable base within walking distance of rehearsal and performance spaces. Each day begins with breakfast at a local caffè, with additional meals arranged through neighborhood restaurants.
Travel and Shared Experiences:
Private coach transfers are provided from Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to Orvieto at the start of the program and at its close. Group travel is also arranged for festival activities, including an excursion to Lago Bolsena—Europe’s largest volcanic lake.
Spaces and Materials for Your Work:
Residency includes access to rehearsal spaces, the Orvieto Musica library, and wireless internet. All required music licensing fees are covered by the festival.
Support in Daily Life:
Health, safety, and cleaning support are provided throughout the stay. City tax and key deposit are included. Participants also enjoy complimentary admission to all Orvieto Musica concerts and events, along with discounts at partner shops in the city.
Professional Recordings:
All festival performances are recorded. High-definition video of individual concerts are available on request, and access to the Orvieto Musica archive is included.
Please note that airfare is not included in your festival fees.
Program Fees
TubaFest + Shared Housing: $1,695
TubaFest + Private Room Upgrade: $2,045
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
Families and Guests Welcome!
We warmly invite your family, friends, or partners to share in your time in Orvieto during the week-long residency. Our guest package includes accommodations and airport transportation from Rome, tailored for a one-week stay.
“La Dolce Vita” Cultural Experience
For guests seeking a deeper cultural immersion, our La Dolce Vita program offers a curated week of Italian language classes, guided excursions, private tastings, artisan workshops, and more—designed to showcase the best of Umbrian life.
Guest Faculty
We welcome distinguished artist-faculty to join TubaFest—whether accompanying a university studio or participating independently. Those interested in joining the teaching roster are invited to complete the Guest Faculty Registration Form.
Reserve Your Spot
Submit Your Free Application
Applications for the 2026 Season are due by December 31, 2025
What’s Next?
Upon acceptance into the program, your deposit and Festival Registration Form must be submitted by Wednesday, January 21, 2026. Your final balance will be due by Sunday, March 1, 2026.
An Orvieto Musica chartered bus will transport you from Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to the hilltop town of Orvieto, where you will be welcomed by your apartment hosts. To ensure you can join this transfer, please arrange to arrive at FCO no later than 11:30 AM CET on June 21. For your return, please book departing flights no earlier than 12:30 PM CET on June 28, to accommodate the return bus from Orvieto to the airport.
Full travel and arrival guidance can be found in the OM Portal, your go-to resource for important dates, forms, and planning tools for the upcoming season.