Italian Brass Week 2023
XXIV EDITION
Florence July 23-28
Brass musicians, coming from all over the world, meet again in Florence and Arezzo, in Italy, to place themselves under the wings of great virtuosos, international soloists and members of the great orchestras of the world, their Masters.
All participants will be able to give breath to their instruments, breath to their vocation, music to the public.
During the Italian Brass Week there will also be the time for new brass bands, listen solo recitals, and be part of world premieres, happenings, concerts of the Italian Brass Week Ensemble - the always original, unrepeatable and festive international formation directed for the occasion by Luca Benucci and Lito Fontana where students will be involved in multiple concerts throughout the week.
The didactic activities will take place in an exceptional location: the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, with soundproofed classrooms, air conditioning, in an environment dedicated to making music of the highest quality.
The concerts will be in enchanting locations in Florence which will leave even the general public breathless and will be announced after the press conference.
The Italian Brass Week has the breath and protection of amateurs and professionals of the arts, producers and ambassadors of Tuscany and patrons and sponsors also for scholarships aimed at young students.
For this XXIV edition, the following activities will be guaranteed to all members of the Festival included in the membership-registration fee which must be paid at the time of your online Application which has the deadline of July 10, 2023 until all available places for each class.
The participation fee can be paid in different ways:
By bank transfer, with PayPal transfer, please see APPLICATION on site.
All active members will be guaranteed the following activities and insurance:
RC insurance for all participants (does not include theft and damage to property tools and personal effects);
Student Secretariat active for every need - available every day for further information on hotels, restaurants and everything you need to feel good in Florence.
The tutors of the students will be your contact persons for any doubts and needs during the festival. On the first day they will let you discover the beauty and grandeur of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino theatre, they will also indicate the protocol to be observed inside the theater and they will show you the different classrooms where you will teach;
General program
* 08.15 Breathing Technique - Blow & Buzz Technique
* 09.00 -13.00 Individual lessons with the teachers of your class
* Lunch break (you will have an agreement for the restaurant)
* 15.00 Individual lessons with the teachers of your class
* 16.30 Ensemble music lessons for Brass Ensemble and Brass Band
* 19.15 end of activity in the Theater
* Dinner break (affiliated restaurants will be indicated near the concert location)
* 21.30 Evening concerts in various locations
"ACTIVE" students will be guaranteed the following activities:
23 July
8.00 - 11.00 participation payment and collection of the identification badge
a priority desk will be guaranteed for the participants in the Prize and as soon as they have regularized their participation they will be accompanied to the rooms to warm up.
10.00 WINGS TO TALENT international award for the assignment of 5 scholarships offered by A.N.B.I.M.A.
13.00 lunch break
3.00 pm orientation inside the theater with the Tutors
4.30 pm reading rehearsals for the festival concerts
19.15 end of activity in the theater.
the following activities will be guaranteed:
2 lessons of 30 minutes with each teacher that can be fixed using an app that will be sent to you once the registration has been regularized
From 24 to 28 July every day from 8.15 the Breathing Gym.
From 24 to 28 July chamber music lessons are scheduled every day for which you will be selected for your ensemble with which you will go to perform concerts in Florence.
From 24 to 28 individual lessons with the instructors are guaranteed at the following times: 9.00-13.00/15.00-16.30
Many concerts will be held during the festival, including a happening where you will be the protagonists and many other concert initiatives that will allow you to give voice to your art and have fun together with young people from all over the world.
Free admission to the evening concerts where the artists of the Italian Brass Week will perform with the exception of the concerts of 25 and 26 July.
"LISTENER" students will be guaranteed the following activities:
23 July
8.00 - 11.00 participation payment and collection of the identification badge
10.00 WINGS TO TALENT international award for the assignment of 5 scholarships (YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE COMPETITION)
3.00 pm orientation inside the theater with the Tutors
4.30 pm reading rehearsals for the festival concerts
19.15 end of activity in the theater.
From 24 to 28 July every day from 8.15 the Breathing Gym. From 24 to 28 July you will be able to listen to the lessons of all the teachers engaged in their individual lessons. From July 24th to 28th chamber music lessons are scheduled every day in which you can participate by playing to subsequently perform the concerts in Florence .
As soon as you have completed your online registration, you will receive a complete scheduleand personal asistent for the activities, timetables and anything else you may need for your stay in Florence.
Membership fees are refundable until June 15, 2023.
For further clarifications, do not hesitate to write to Emilia Galli, segreteria@italianbrass.com who will be able to respond to all your needs.
Eugene (Gene) Pokorny is principal tuba of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He has previously served as the tubist in the Israel Philharmonic, the Utah Symphony, the St. Louis Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In addition to playing for Hollywood film scores such as Jurassic Park and The Fugitive, he has performed worldwide in opera orchestras, chamber music ensembles and orchestra festivals.
Pokorny regularly participates in brass seminars, playing recitals and holding master classes. He annually returns to Southern California to teach, play, and lecture at the Pokorny Seminar held at the University of Redlands; 2017 marks the tenth anniversary of this event. Pokorny has recorded several solo and educational CDs of his own and assisted Rolling Stones’ trombonist Michael Davis in recording numerous educational workbook CDs.
Pokorny studied tuba with Jeffrey Reynolds, Larry Johansen, Tommy Johnson and Roger Bobo. He graduated from the University of Southern California and has received an outstanding alumnus award from USC and an honorary doctorate from the University of Redlands.
About Sérgio Carolino:
Collector of music works, records, awards, compliments, reputation, sunglasses, hashtags and sel- fies. Source of creativity and virtuosity. Eclectic, original and visionary. Curious by definition. Ad- venturous by choice. Owner of a pure heart and Sparky, the Basset Hound. Transpires musicality and works to achieve excellence. Passionate about life, loves cinema, mythology, reading, fishing and spending time with his friends. Anyone who crosses with him will never forget him and leave, of that encounter, humanly and professionally richer.
He has always shown great curiosity and ability to explore different musical paths and languages.
Currently his international reputation has been established by his interpretation of the standard and contemporary repertoire for tuba and his stylistic approach to jazz, funk and improvised mu- sic.
Sérgio Carolino, is one of the most acclaimed tubists, with constant activity as a soloist and tea- cher in the most prestigious festivals, conservatories and universities on the five continents. Recei- ved for six times the Roger Bobo Award Prize for Excellence in Recording (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2019 and 2021), the Award for Emerging Jazz Artist (2004), the Carlos Paredes Prize (2004) and won the SPA Award 2013 - Classical Music Category (Portuguese Author’s Society) for the works published in 2012 and for promoting Portuguese music throughout the World.
TGB with Mário Delgado and Alexandre Frazão, TUBAX Duo with Mário Marques, TUBAB Duo, R’B & Mr.SC, The Postcard Brass Band, XL Duo with Telmo Marques, Surrealistic Discussion with João Barradas, Duo AR. with Maria João, SubWoof3r, Tuba&Drums Double Duo with Oren Marshall, Duo Adamastor with Cândido Fernandes, Funky Bones Factory!, Yamaha Tuba Duo with Shimpei Tsugita, Moderato Tangabile with Daniel Schvetz, T’N T "Tuba 'n Tuba" with Gene Pokorny , Mr.SC & The Wild Bones Gang, European Tuba Trio with Anthony Caillet and François Thuillier, Conical Brass with Jeff Nelsen, Effervescence with James Thompson, TransAtlantic Tuba Connection with Mike Forbes, his solo project "iNTERGALACTiC ViBES!", and Daniel Bernardes Crossfade Ensemble, run in his veins.
Sérgio is, since 2002, principal tuba with the Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música and he was professor of tuba at the Porto Superior School of Music and Arts (ESMAE) from 2006 to July 2019. Since 2010 he is also artist director of GRAVÍSSIMO! - Alcobaça International Low Brass Festival. He is on the faculty of Musical Arts Madrid, as professor of tuba and creativity. Sérgio has been guest professor for one semester (Fall/ Winter 2019 and Spring semestre of 2022) at the prestigious Indiana University - Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
Plays with his own signature design and concept mouthpieces by Brass Lab MoMo made by mas- ter Hirotaka Nakai (Osaka/Japan) with the muted "Mushroom Cup Mute", manufactured by Johann Schlipfinger.
For more information and booking, please visit: https://www.palcoimprovisado.com/sergio-carolino
He began the study of the bass-tuba at the Istituto Musicale of Aosta and later graduated from the Conservatory A. Boito in Parma. Later he participated in the postgraduate studies of the Fiesole School of Music under the guidance of masters R. Bobo and V. Globokar and he played the role of bass-tuba at the Italian Youth Orchestra.
He won the scholarship to attend the School of High Musical Improvement of Saluzzo with the teachers D. Glidden and R. Tucci. He was admitted in the class of Virtuosité at the Conservatory of Lausanne (Switzerland) under the guidance of Maestro R. Bobo where he obtained "The Premier Prix de Virtuosité avec félicitations" later perfected also with the masters R. Martin and G. Pokorny . Winner of various auditions, he has collaborated in the major Italian lyric-symphonic institutions under the direction of the masters C. Abbado, Z. Mehta, R. Muti, C.M. Giulini, S. Ozawa, G. Sinopoli, L. Maazel, G. Prètre, S. Bychkov.
He won contests for the short-tuba position at the National Academy of Santa Cecilia in Rome and the Orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence (principal conductor Z. Mehta), a role he still holds. The concert experience gained over the years through tours in Italy, Europe, America and Asia, combines the teaching activity holding several master classes.
Having attended numerous master classes with teachers he earned his diploma, attaining top marks and praise from the Valle d'Aosta State recognized Musical Institute. Currently he teaches in the Conservatory Luisa D'Annunzio of Pescara, Licino Refice of Frosinone and G.B.Martini of Bologna.
He attended R. Bobo's high specialization class at “Haute Ecole de Musique” in Lausanne earning his degree in May of 2005.
Starting in 2001 he has worked with many opera and symphonic orchestras.
He was first tuba with the Orchestra Sinfonica G. Verdi of Milano from September 2005 to October 2007.
On October 20th, 2007 he won the audition for the stable position of first tuba with the Fondazione Teatro Comunale di Bologna.
He held that position until September 27th, 2010 when he left to take up his current role of first tuba with the Fondazione Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, in Rome, having won the audition for the permanent post on May 11th, 2010.
Gianluca Grosso is an Artist and plays on Miraphone instruments Germany.