SICILY ORCHESTRAL COURSE 2026
Unterkunft
NB: Die Kosten für die Unterkunft sind nicht in der Kursgebühr enthalten; Sie müssen diese separat buchen und bezahlen.
We highly recommend Scicli B&B. Their proprietor, Massimo Borgese, has provided many orchestra members with accommodation in local flats. Please note that this year, if you want to use Massimo’s accommodation, you need to book directly with him, rather than through us. It is best to contact him directly, rather than through something like Tripadvisor or Booking.com, so if you would like to investigate this possibility please ask us and we’ll give you his email and WhatsApp details.
There are, of course, lots of other options in Scicli. It is a ‘walkable’ town, so, unless you get accommodation on the outskirts, you will be within walking distance of the rehearsal space, concert venue and local amenities.
Alter/Standard
Es gibt kein festgelegtes Mindest- oder Höchstalter. Personen unter 18 Jahren müssen von einem Elternteil oder Erziehungsberechtigten begleitet werden. Wir haben Spielerinnen und Spieler unterschiedlicher Spielstärken, darunter auch Profis. Als Richtwert empfehlen wir ein Niveau von mindestens ABRSM-Grade 6, wobei Erfahrung ebenso wichtig ist und je nach Instrument variieren kann – fragen Sie uns gerne, wenn Sie sich unsicher sind.
Caffè Sicilia
Caffè Sicilia is very much a meeting point (and it’s also a good café). Here is a picture. Its address is 11 Corso Garibaldi (next to Piazza Italia). If you get lost just ask, locals will know the names Corso Garibaldi and Piazza Italia, and probably the café too.
Das Klima
It is, of course, likely to be hot! However the heat tends to be dry, and so it doesn’t usually feel nearly so sticky as it does in the UK when it gets very hot. You may feel the need to sleep in the afternoon on occasion as do many of the locals!
There could be some mosquitos (although we’ve not previously encountered them in large numbers) so a bug spray of some kind is recommended.
Die Kommunikation
Wir benötigen Ihre Handynummer, um ein Gruppen-Nachrichtensystem einzurichten. Dies ist sehr hilfreich, um Informationen schnell an alle zu verbreiten.
The concert
Concert dress code is all black. Men: no ties or jackets required; women: short or long dresses or trousers are all fine. We recommend that you bring a stand light.
For the wind and brass: the orchestra size will be no larger than 3222 4231. Some doubling, swapping, sitting out etc may be needed but this will be kept to a minimum.
2024 concert programme:
Schubert: Overture in the Italian style
Bartok: 6 Romanian Dances
Donizetti: Cruda, funesta smania
Verdi: Il balen del suo sorriso
Mendelssohn: Intermezzo & Nocturne from Midsummer Night’s Dream
Mozart: Deh, vieni alla finestra
Rossini: Largo al factotum
Haydn: Symphony No.94 movements 2-4
Encore: O Sole Mio
Die Kursgebühr
Die Einzelheiten zum zu zahlenden Betrag Kosten entnehmen Sie bitte der entsprechenden Seite. Bitte beachten Sie, dass Ihr Platz erst nach vollständiger Bezahlung der Kursgebühr gesichert ist. Einzelheiten zur Höhe der Gebühr finden Sie auf der entsprechenden Seite.
The course fee for 2025, unlike in previous years, now includes:
- The cost of the welcome meal.
- The cost of the final meal/event and transport to/from it.
- The cost of the guided tour around Scicli.
- The transport costs for one excursion.
Please note that non-playing people who are with you pay £110, which covers the above four items. The only exception would be for babies and small children.
Der Zoll
If you are bringing an instrument with you: does it contain a rare material that could be restricted? For example, a bow with some ivory. If possible it’s best to avoid these materials entirely, but if you can’t, then take with you some sort of proof of purchase and ownership, and have a look at this webpage:
https://musiciansunion.org.uk/working-performing/working-overseas/travelling-with-a-musical-instrument/musical-instruments-made-of-rare-materials (es ist detailliert und für Fachleute geschrieben, aber dennoch relevant).
Es ist sehr unwahrscheinlich, dass Sie ein Problem haben werden, aber unmöglich ist es nicht…
Die Daten
The course dates are Sunday 24 to Saturday 30 August, with the first rehearsal being 18.45 on Sunday 24, and the concert will be on Friday 29 August in Scicli. You could arrive on the Sunday, but it will be easier to do so on Saturday 23 August. Also, you could leave on Saturday 30, but if so you will miss some fun after-concert activities (!), so we’d recommend you leave on the Sunday (or the Monday … make a real holiday out of it!). It may be possible to arrive after 24 August – please bitte fragen Sie nach.
Die Exkursionen
There will be two or three extra excursions organised during the week. Full details will be announced in due course, but please note that we try to introduce at least one new place each year. Norma Fender is in charge of these. Everyone is invited, whether or not they are playing in the orchestra, and we will also need to know whether those ‘extras’ are going to come or not.
Please note that these trips are on an opt-out basis: we need to book coaches in advance, and have to give numbers to get the appropriate coach size … therefore, we assume everyone is coming and ask you to let us know if you (or someone in your party) doesn’t want to come to one or more of the trips. There will be an extra cost to cover this transport which will be collected in cash (or hopefully – an innovation for 2025! – with a card reader) during the excursion. The cost of transport for one of the trips is included in the course fee. The exact amount will depend on the number of people going (and therefore the size of coach required) but it is likely to be in the region of €15 per trip. You would also need to pay other costs such as castle entrance fee or lunch.
The beach is a short bus or taxi ride away.
If you are taking local buses or trains you will need to know where to buy tickets. Ask one of us during the course.
If you are going anywhere by train remember that you must validate your ticket in a special (usually green) machine before you board (or you need to check-in if it’s an e-ticket). You may be fined if you forget.
Es gibt eine Facebook-Gruppe zum Kurs, der Sie gerne beitreten können, wenn Sie sich angemeldet haben oder in einem der Vorjahre teilgenommen haben:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/121043465193141
Das Essen
Breakfast can be had cheaply in one of the large number of bars in the town (including Caffè Sicilia), and there are lots of good restaurants where it’s possible to get a good meal for less than in the UK. Please ask for recommendations. There are shops, markets and supermarkets, and many of the Scicli B&B flats have a kitchen, where you could cook for yourselves.
There are some local delicacies that you really should try while you’re there: arancini, granite, cannoli, Nero d’Avola wine …
Die Sprachen
We usually have some Italians playing with us, so rehearsals will probably be in both English and Italian. It may be possible to accommodate German and French speakers – please enquire.
Wenn Sie etwas Italienisch sprechen, werden die Einheimischen begeistert sein! Sicherlich spricht nicht jeder Englisch, aber genug beherrschen zumindest ein paar Brocken, um sich verständigen zu können. Es gibt immer ein paar Orchestermitglieder, die passables (oder sogar besseres) Italienisch sprechen. Bitten Sie sie bei Bedarf um Hilfe, dann sollte es keine Probleme geben.
Große Instrumente
Players of large instruments are eligible for help with the cost of transporting their instrument. As an alternative, we may be able to hire an instrument for you in Sicily, therefore avoiding the challenges involved in transportation (for example, we own two cellos and a double bass). There would be a small hire charge. A limited number of such instruments is available so please bitte fragen Sie nach daher frühzeitig.
Mobilität
If you have mobility problems please let us know. Scicli is not a very flat town and has a good number of cobbled streets and we would want to ensure, for example, that your accommodation is easily accessible to you.
Probleme usw.
Bei allen Fragen rund um Reisen wenden Sie sich bitte an Norma.
Bei allen Fragen rund um den musikalischen Teil der Woche wenden Sie sich bitte an Peter.
Sie erhalten deren Telefonnummern zu gegebener Zeit.
If you have an emergency, call 113 for the police, 115 for the fire brigade and 118 for a medical emergency. If you need help that is not quite that urgent then please contact Peter or Norma and we will try to sort things out for you.
Die Proben
The schedule below will be updated with details of the rehearsals, when they are available, and also with the rehearsal and concert venues’ addresses. We will meet on Sunday at 18.15 in front of Caffè Sicilia to walk to the rehearsal en masse (see the Caffè Sicilia section).
If you are not at Caffè Sicilia on Sunday at 18.15 we will assume that you know the way 🙂
Please note that music stands are provided. The concert will be out of doors so clothes’ pegs will also be supplied.
Your music will be provided too, although you are welcome to bring your own printed copies if you have markings which are useful for you. Details of the music to be played will be sent to you by the end of April, and the parts will be available to download/view.
Das Programm
From 2024: as an example only
Mon: 18.45-21.00 rehearsal (the church hall of Madonna di Fatima, 136 Corso Garibaldi)
Tue: 09.00-11.30 rehearsal / 20.30 welcome meal for all at Osteria del Ponte in Scicli
Wed: 09.00-11.30 rehearsal (sectionals) / 12.30 afternoon excursion to Donnafugata Castle (restaurants nearby) / 18.45-21.00 rehearsal
Thu: 09.00-11.30 rehearsal / 12.30 afternoon excursion to Punta Secca for pre-booked group lunch & (optional!) beach / 18.30-20.15 rehearsal at concert venue (Villa Penna, 23 Via Dante Alighieri)
Fri: late afternoon rehearsal then concert in Scicli (Villa Penna)
Sat: 11.00 Excursion to Ragusa (many eating possibilities) / final evening together organised by chef Emilia Strazzanti at Cavallo d’Ispica.
Scicli
Scicli is a town of about 25,000 inhabitants, and there are all the usual amenities (shops, cashpoints, post office, pharmacies, etc).
Die Saiten/Rohrblätter usw.
There are no music shops in Scicli, nor in any of the neighbouring towns. Therefore please ensure you come with necessary ‘accessories’ such as spare strings, reeds etc.
Reisen
NB: Sie müssen Ihre Reise selbst buchen und bezahlen.
1. Mit dem Flugzeug
NB1: Most airlines offer flights to Sicily a long way ahead.
NB2: Please ensure you know what your airline’s restrictions are on carrying musical instruments. Many airlines now charge extra, for example, to carry something the size of a violin.
Booking early is always the best money-saving option, but one other way of flying cheaply is to change at somewhere like Milan or Rome.
Sie werden informiert, falls sich weitere Teilnehmer auf demselben Flug befinden wie Sie.
Comiso and Catania airports are both within reach of Scicli. Please note that you can reach each airport by a variety of airlines (especially if you are prepared to change planes). Car hire is possible at both airports.
PLEASE NOTE: There are no longer direct Ryanair flights to Comiso from the UK; the only Ryanair option would be to change in Rome or Milan.
Comiso airport is about 45 minutes by road from Scicli. For transfers to Scicli see this webpage (under Comiso Airport Transfers, and the link to Local Bus Lines). A taxi is likely to cost about €50-80 (see, for example, Scicli Taxi Service).
Catania airport is larger and is served by a number of airlines directly from the UK and other countries. There is a coach (run by the company AST) which goes straight to Scicli from just outside the airport terminal. Click here for the timetable. (That webpage is only in Italian – do ask if you want help with it, but the main times are printed below).
To find the correct bus stop: exit the arrivals terminal to the right as you come out of the baggage hall, stay on the same level and walk about 50 yards: you will see small bus shelters next to the road. Click hier for a picture of one of those shelters. Pretty much the last one of the shelters has a sign for AST, and there will be an AST timetable attached to the shelter or to a post. People wait for several different buses at that shelter. When the bus arrives (usually a single-decker white coach, but occasionally double-decker) you need to put your bags in the under-bus compartment. You pay the driver in cash (c.€10). Journey time is about 2.5 hours or a little more. You will first see Scicli as the bus negotiates one of a number of hairpin bends down into the town – you get a spectacular view! Get off at the bus stop in Corso Mazzini (it’s the only Scicli bus stop for these buses), which is close to Caffè Sicilia. Click hier for a picture of the bus stops. Walk down the tree-lined avenue that you see in that picture and you will find Caffè Sicilia (our meeting point) on the right after a couple of hundred metres. See above for info about Caffè Sicilia.
Coach times from Catania airport to Scicli (as of 26 December 2024 – please check in case there have been changes):
Mon – Sat: 09.15 / 11.15 / 14.45 / 18.45 / 20.45
Sun: 11.15 / 17.45 / 21.45
Coach times from Scicli to Catania airport:
Mon – Sat: 5.00 / 6.20 / 12.20* / 14.20 / 16.50
Sun: 7.20 / 13.50 / 17.50
* = change at Modica
These coaches start (and end) in the centre of Catania (outside the railway station: bus stand 12), starting 15 minutes before (or after) the above times. Trains are also possible from Catania airport (the station is called Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa). You have to change at Siracusa, it takes about 3 hours and costs about €11. Unless you’re particularly keen to do it by train I’d recommend the bus, which is generally more reliable. A taxi from Catania airport to Scicli is in the region of €120-50, if booked in advance, for example, through Scicli Taxi Service (NB that may now be more, given the recent increases in fuel prices). An airport taxi will cost a good bit more than that.
Please note: as you will see from the timetable above there aren’t a lot of coaches to/from Catania airport (especially on a Sunday). You may therefore be wondering how, for example, to get back to the airport on Sunday 31 August. You could get the early coach, but you might have ages to wait before your flight. Before, when there have been several people in this type of situation, it has been possible to hire a large taxi / people carrier to go at a more convenient time. It’s a bit more expensive than the bus but it makes the day much easier. So don’t let that leg of the journey put you off – there are ways round such problems!
2. Mit dem Zug
I’ve done the journey from London to Sicily by train several times – it’s wonderful and well worth it if you’re not in a hurry! You get to go across the Messina Straits on the ferry (the train is shunted on to the ferry and then off again on the other side!), and the ferry has great arancini! All the information you will need can be found on the fabulous Man in Seat 61 website, or feel free to ask me as I’d be glad to help.
Arrival
It’s good to know that you’ve arrived safe and sound, so please do call or send us message to let us know that you’ve got to Scicli!