Smarano International EARLY Keyboards Academy
OUR MOTTO
Docendo discitur
“Smarano International Early Keyboards Academy” is an eleven-day summer course in northern Italy, where multiple interconnected masterclasses about the art of keyboard music from the 16th to the 18th century are held by internationally renowned musicians and experts. During the course, based on historical teaching methods, the participants can have four hours a day of scheduled practice time and private coaching on multiple keyboard instruments (organ, harpsichord, clavichord, and fortepiano).
That is why Smarano’s motto is a quotation from Seneca: Docendo Discitur, meaning “it is learned by teaching”. The Smarano Academy is a true meeting platform where people in our field gather to learn from one another and teach one another about a valuable European cultural heritage.
News
The Smarano Academy is honored to welcome Professor Bernard Foccroulle to its 2025 program.
The Smarano Academy is pleased to announce that Professor Salvatore Carchiolo will join the teaching faculty for its 2025 edition.
We are pleased to announce that Prof. Hans Davidsson has become the Director of the Smarano Academy's artistic committee.
The International Academy of Smarano, in collaboration with the Piazza del Mondo Association, is launching a contemporary composition workshop dedicated to historical keyboard instruments.
Academy 2024
Theme
The 2025 Academy starts a three-year cycle dedicated to the close correlation between the correct interpretation of the ancient repertoire and the knowledge of the sources, the reading and understanding of the original texts with the information they convey and the role played by musical instruments, not only in the interpretative moment but also in the compositional/creative moment of the music itself.
Where and When
The 2025 Smarano Academy
will be held from 25. July to 5. August
in L'Aquila (25-27 July) and Smarano (28 July-5 August), a small village in the province of Trento, in North Italy.
Smarano is a hamlet of the municipality of Predaia, located on the eastern side of Val di Non and nestled in the woods of the Dolomites. A visit to the historic organs of L’Aquila will help to place the music in a sound context very similar to the original.
Courses and theacher
The Academy is characterized by an individual and collective work on improvisation and repertoire. The courses are taught by renowned teachers from the leading European and American institutions: Alessandro Albenga, Enrico Baiano, Salvatore Carchiolo, Armando Carideo, Hans Davidsson, Ulrika Davidsson, Bernard Foccroulle, William Porter and Joel Speerstra. The tutor will be Benedetta Porcedda.
Why choose Us
Our statistics
editions
students
concerts
audience
How to apply
What people say about us
Very high academic level. Exceptional teachers. Inspiring classes. Friendly atmosphere. Wonderful collegiality between students and faculty.
Smarano International Organ Academy was the best summer academy that I have ever attended, and I have attended a lot! Full of good teachers and great people.
The greater strenght of Smarano Academy is the wide diversity of available instruments and teachers who are each experts in a particular field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, active participants will be required to attend the whole Academy.
No, non-active participants will not be required to attend the whole Academy.
Each active participant is due to prepare a repertoire that will published by the end of January.
After the application's approval, we will send you the list of the accomodation facilities in Smarano affiliated with us (hostels, B&B, hotels). We will take care of the reservation.
The admittance will be confirmed upon payment of the application fee that is due within 15 days from the confirmation.
The fee includes the courses, 3/4 hours of individual practice/coaching per day, tuition materials, certificate of attendance, accident insurance.
No, but practising instruments may be available for a limited extent.
Yes, when you will complete the Academy, you will receive a certificate of attendance.
Festschrift Smarano Academy: 30 anni di storia in musica
This volume aims to reconstruct the first 30 years of the Academy's history and to analyse, through a scientific-divulgation perspective, the results achieved in terms of didactic training in the field of early keyboard music.
Smarano Platform
The summer school is organized by the association Smarano International Academy and is part of the “Smarano Platform” project, a hub dedicated to research, production, and dissemination of educational and artistic projects focused on music for early keyboard instruments. This initiative provides an immersive environment where students and professionals can explore historical keyboard music’s unique repertoire, technique, and interpretative aspects, fostering a deep engagement with cultural heritage and contemporary artistic expression.
Stay tuned for more information!
Follow us
Our sponsor
