Lugo

LUGO, EMILIA-ROMAGNA
26 OCT – 1 NOV 2025

Currently available places:

Violin: 8 of 16 – Viola: 6 of 6 – Cello: 4 of 5
Double bass: 3 of 3 – Flute: 1 of 2 – Oboe: 2 of 2
Clarinet: 1 of 2 – Bassoon: 1 of 2 – Horn: 2 of 2
Trumpet: 2 of 2 – Timpani/Percussion: 1 of 2

  • A friendly course – for adults and young people in the wonderful region of Emilia-Romagna, in north-eastern Italy.
  • Lugo is our basea medieval town situated between the UNESCO cities Bologna and Ravenna, both of which we can visit!
  • Come and enjoy the superb history, architecture, food and hospitality of this lovely region!
  • Bring with you your spouse / partner / children / friends: they are most welcome, and (non-playing ones) are exempt from the course fee.

Music

The team – Peter Fender is the conductor and Jessica O’Leary the leader (see About Us).

Players required – see the list above for currently required players. We have people of a variety of standards across the orchestra.

Rehearsals – there will be five or six during the week, in Lugo, and the concert will be on the Friday, preceded by an additional late afternoon rehearsal. 

The programme – details will be agreed in due course, but the 2024 programme is on the Full Info page as an example. We may well play some more Rossini, as he lived in Lugo for a while when young, and there is a Rossini theatre and a Rossini museum in Lugo (which we shall visit on our guided tour of the town).     

Holiday

Emilia-Romagna – has been called the best area in Europe to spend time in by The Lonely Planet Guide!

Explore/relax – as well as the musical side of the week, there will be plenty of time to explore – whether your passion is perhaps history, architecture or food. Or you could just chill out with a glass of local wine in a wonderfully relaxing atmosphere!

Ravenna/Bologna – two of Europe’s most amazing cities are a short train-ride away from Lugo!

Welcome – there will be a special meal to welcome us to Lugo, and a ‘behind-the-scenes’ tour of the town.

Cost

There are three costs involved (apart from general costs relating to food etc):

  1. Course – the standard course fee is £445 per person, for non-players it is £110 (this includes the cost of the welcome meal, a final meal/event, the guided tour around Lugo and another excursion tbc). Reductions will be available (for example, a £30 discount if you are a student or pay before the end of April 2025, or you come with playing family members). A £30 discount is also available if you come on both this and the Sicily course. The Cost page has full details.
  2. Travel – you must book and pay for your own travel.
  3. Accommodation– you must also book and pay for your own accommodation.  We have agreed special prices with two hotels and a B&B in Lugo, and there are several other B&B and Air B&B properties.  

NB: Large instrumentsplayers of large instruments are eligible for help with the cost of transporting their instrument – alternatively we may be able to hire (for a fee) an instrument for you in Lugo.