fbpx
Italy
Italy

Alta Pusteria International Choir Festival


FESTIVAL DATES

June 12-16, 2024

Welcome to Italy

Since its inception, more than 1,000 choirs have performed at the annual Italian Alpine Choral Festival a.k.a. the Alta Pusteria International Choir Festival amidst the enchanting scenery of the Dolomites in South Tyrol, Italy. In 2024, choirs from all over the world will attend the 27th edition of the festival to share their music at fascinating outdoor and indoor venues throughout the valley of Pusteria. With its dramatic peaks and jewel-like lakes, it is little wonder Gustav Mahler chose this UNESCO World Heritage Site for his private composing cottage.

The festival is open to all types of choirs and offers performance opportunities in theaters, concert halls and churches across the Val Pusteria region, as well as open-air, lofty performances at alpine huts, music pavilions, castles and lakes. Repertoire is free of choice—there are no compulsory pieces and all musical periods and music styles are welcome!

You will get to know your fellow participating singers during daily social events that take place throughout the week including: a festival opening concert, the “Fiesta di Benvenuto” welcome event on the top of the spectacular Plan de Corones mountain, a traditional Tyrolese party in Villabassa, the exuberant Parade of Choirs through San Candido, and the “Festa dell´ Arrivederci” festival closing event.

Join us for this unique musical event in the midst of the wild and romantic landscape of South Tyrol, Italy! Consider another destination in Verona, Italy the Verona International Choral Competition. Ready to get started? Contact us today!

Itinerary

June 12-16, 2024


TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2024 | DEPART FROM NORTH AMERICA

Depart North America on a flight bound for the Val Puster region (closest airports include Venice, Italy; Munich, Germany; or Innsbruck, Austria).  Meals, snacks, and refreshments will be served on the flight.




WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2024 | ARRIVE IN SOUTH TYROL, ITALY | OPENING CEREMONY

Upon arrival in Europe, your Music Contact International tour manager will greet your choir at the airport.  Together, transfer via motor coach to Val Pusteria in South Tyrol, Italy. This idyllic valley is located at the foot of the Dolomites mountain range and lies right on the cusp of the Italy-Austria border. A fabled winter sports destination, the valley reveals a breathtakingly verdant side of itself in the summer becoming a sea of greenery and wildflowers.

Check into your lodge-style hotel and refresh before a celebratory toast and preview of the coming days. This evening, a welcome dinner of Tyrolese specialties is served in the hotel dining room.

After dinner, the festival officially kicks off with an Opening Concert for all participating choirs at Gustav Mahler Hall in the charming resort town of Dobbiaco.




THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2024 | WELCOME CELEBRATION | CONCERTS

Enjoy breakfast followed by a lofty transfer to the top of the Plan de Corones mountain for the “Festa di Benvenuto, a welcome party where all choirs gather for a friendly exchange and informal performances.  A stage is set up under the campana – the second largest bell in Italy – and each choir is invited to share a song. At the end of the performances, all participants have the pleasure of hearing the bell as it reverberates through the surrounding alpine landscape.

This afternoon, display your vocal harmony during open-air concerts at truly special outdoor venues, including quaint ski huts accessible only by cable car and at the foot of the majestic medieval castle at Monguelfo. Choirs perform in series, with two to five choirs typically singing in each locale. Later, dinner will be served for your group at the hotel.

This evening’s program will be comprised of indoor concerts at historic venues throughout the Val Pusteria region. Venues will be allotted according to musical genre. Choirs each perform two highlights from their repertoire.




FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2024 | TYROLEAN FEAST | CONCERTS

Open-air concerts continue throughout the day at stunning local sites such as the Braies and Anterselva lakes, as well as fairytale medieval courtyards.

Reconvene for an early dinner at the hotel before a round of indoor evening concerts.

Later tonight, all participating choirs are invited to the town of Villabassa to perform a choral selection as part of the town’s “Festa Tyrolese“! This annual nighttime celebration takes place in the main square and offers traditional foods, handicrafts, popular music, and performances by Tyrolean folklore musicians.




SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024 | PARADE OF CHOIRS | CONCERTS

Choral concerts continue throughout the morning and early afternoon.  Afterward, all participating ensembles gather in the center of San Candido for the Parade of Choirs—a highlight of the Alta Pusteria International Choir Festival!  After the mayor’s official greetings, singers parade in uniform through the charming streets. The procession culminates with a massed sing featuring all choirs.

Return to your hotel for a farewell dinner of traditional cuisine, followed by a final celebratory round of performances in concert halls and churches.




SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 2024 | CLOSING CEREMONY | FREE AFTERNOON

The annual “Festa dell’Arrivederci”, or Closing Ceremony, takes place in the town of Sesto. Here choir directors are awarded a Certificate of Participation for their contributions to this year’s festival and invited back as honorary members of the Alta Puster singing community!

The 2023 Alta Pusteria International Choir Festival concludes around lunchtime, at which point choirs may depart for their next destination. An additional night in the festival hotel can also be arranged.

Package

Inclusions

Accommodations
•4 nights in a high-quality festival hotel, double occupancy, including all hotel service charges and taxes

Transportation
•A private, modern, air-conditioned motor coach with a professional driver is provided for all ground transport as described in the itinerary.
•Ski-lift tickets for the Welcome Ceremony and any applicable outdoor concerts in the mountains

Meals
•Breakfast served daily in the hotel dining room
•Dinner served nightly in the hotel dining room

Tour Manager
•A full-time Music Contact International tour manager to accompany your group during their entire stay, from arrival to departure

Performance Opportunities
•A minimum of 3 and maximum of 6 singing opportunities throughout the festival; venues vary from churches and theaters to alpine huts and dramatic outdoor settings!

Guided Tours
•Locally guided tours to surrounding points of interest can be arranged upon request

Complimentary Places
•Two complimentary land packages for every 30 paying travelers in single rooms

Additional Days in Europe

If your choir is interested in extending their stay in Europe, please let us know. We will be glad to offer an extension tour, with singing or without, according to your choir’s interests.


Inclusions


Accommodations
•4 nights in a high-quality festival hotel, double occupancy, including all hotel service charges and taxes

Transportation
•A private, modern, air-conditioned motor coach with a professional driver is provided for all ground transport as described in the itinerary.
•Ski-lift tickets for the Welcome Ceremony and any applicable outdoor concerts in the mountains

Meals
•Breakfast served daily in the hotel dining room
•Dinner served nightly in the hotel dining room

Tour Manager
•A full-time Music Contact International tour manager to accompany your group during their entire stay, from arrival to departure

Performance Opportunities
•A minimum of 3 and maximum of 6 singing opportunities throughout the festival; venues vary from churches and theaters to alpine huts and dramatic outdoor settings!

Guided Tours
•Locally guided tours to surrounding points of interest can be arranged upon request

Complimentary Places
•Two complimentary land packages for every 30 paying travelers in single rooms


Additional Days in Europe


If your choir is interested in extending their stay in Europe, please let us know. We will be glad to offer an extension tour, with singing or without, according to your choir’s interests.

Your Tour Includes


Traveler's Resource Website


The site is customized exclusively for your group and is full of exciting and interactive features that you will find informative and helpful before, during, and after the tour.

•Current tour itinerary with full descriptions of each day
•FAQ’s and things to know before you go
•Recommended books, movies, websites, and videos


Online Payment System


Group leaders have the option to use our Online Payment System, which enables you to effortlessly collect payments for your trip. Group leaders receive weekly automated reports with traveler balances and due dates.

Travelers can log in to our secure website to review the cost of their trip and all payment deadlines, register for the trip, and make credit card payments. All travelers receive automated reminders when payments are coming due.


Additional Materials


•Customized handbook for each person traveling with your choir, including a detailed program and travel information.
•Electrical adapters*
•Luggage tags
•Passport holder*

*for international travelers

2023-01-12T19:50:25+00:00

Newsletter Sign Up

* indicates required