The medieval city of Assisi, in the province of Perugia, Umbria, is most famous for being the birthplace of Saint Francis, founder of the Franciscan order. Each year, thousands of pilgrims visit Assisi to experience the places he lived and walked firsthand, to see the famous basilica with its original paintings by Giotto, and to visit the Roman runs, There is something for every here, with Assisi's rich history, picturesque neighborhoods, quaint shops and delicious local cuisine. 

Assisi Performing Arts consists of two divisions: vocal and instrumental. Each division boasts world-class performers and renowned faculty, yet we believe the strength of our program resides in the synergy between programs. Singers and Instrumentalists work with excellent accompanists and coaches. As a result, Assisi Performing Arts offers hands-on experience in crafting a musical career that is both deeply satisfying and complementary to the conventional notion of opera stardom. 

Singers enjoy performing opera, oratorio, concert and other diverse repertoire; exploring opportunities (possibly careers!) in sacred music, and collaborating with chamber musicians. Singers perform solo repertoire of their choice and sing with the Festival Choir for concerts and Sunday services at The Basilica of St. Francis, 

Instrumentalists, benefit from a chamber music program featuring musicians from orchestras across the U.S. (and beyond) as well as faculty from many important universities and conservatories. Chamber musicians contribute to the program with their own repertoire recommendations while challenging themselves with lesser-known and new works. Orchestral instrumentalists perform with the Festival Chamber Orchestra as well as ensembles formed by the Instrumental Program Coordinators. Student Pianists perform solo repertoire and in ensembles with other student singers and instrumentalists and receive private lessons.

An intensive schedule of performances in a collegial environment means that participants of all skill levels grow musically as individuals and as members of an ensemble. And the encouraging atmosphere cultivated by Assisi Performing Arts makes it the perfect place to try out new musical genres. Indeed, many of our instrumentalists supplement their “traditional” careers—although, “traditional” is a term we’re striving to redefine—with styles of music they first encountered in Assisi. 

Add in master classes, performances, lectures and our prominent faculty and we believe Assisi Performing Arts is unrivaled. We pride ourselves on artistic integrity and the breadth and depth of musical experiences that we offer, yet, above all (and we mean this), we value an encouraging atmosphere—welcoming newcomers while inspiring old friends to return time and again. 

In short, Assisi Performing Arts is a program unlike any other—European, American or otherwise. So, take a few moments to discover world-class music and summers with Assisi Performing Arts, and please don’t hesitate to be in touch. We look forward to seeing (and hearing) you in Assisi!