FULL INFORMATION FOR LUGO ORCHESTRAL COURSE 2026
Accommodation
NB Accommodation costs are not included in the course fee: you must book and pay for it separately.
Through our partner in Lugo, Matteo Penazzi, we have acquired preferential rates for bed and breakfast at three places in the town. The rates below are confirmed for 2026:
- Ala d’oro – a lovely hotel in an 18th century mansion in the centre of the town. 56 Via Giacomo Matteotti. Single room €60 / twin/double (one person) €82 / twin/double (two people) €94 / triple €114
- Demora Deco – a lovingly restored Art Deco building in the centre of the town. 91 Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi. Single €70 / Double €75
- Hotel Tatì – a good quality and more modern hotel, towards the edge of Lugo, about a mile from the centre. 22/5 Via Provinciale Cotignola. Most people stay in one of the other places, so get in touch with us directly if you want to stay in Hotel Tatì.
When you have signed up and paid the course fee you will be sent details of how to contact the above properties to book your accommodation, along with a discount code. You are, of course, welcome to book your own accommodation should you prefer (there are, for example, a number of Air B&B properties).
Age/Standard
There is no specific minimum or maximum age. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. We have players of a variety of standards, including professional. As a guide, a standard of grade 6+ ABRSM is recommended, although experience is every bit as important, and it may vary from instrument to instrument – please enquire if you are not sure.
Bursaries
If you are a professional musician, then you are welcome to apply for one of three bursaries, which would allow you a reduction of 50% on the standard course fee. Please include information to support an application for a bursary when you make an application to come on the course.
[For these purposes a professional musician is classed as someone who earns at least 50% of their income from musical activities]
Climate
The average October temperature in Lugo is 15.3 degrees centigrade, with an average of 6.5 hours of sun per day.
Communication
We will ask you for your mobile phone number, so that we can create a group messaging system. This is really useful for getting information out to everyone quickly.
Concert
In 2024 the concert venue was: Chiesa del Pio Suffragio, Via della Libertà 1, but that church was too small for the 2025 (as we did the concert with a local choir), so we moved to Chiesa di San Francesco di Paola, Via G. Garibaldi. The 2026 venue is tbc
Concert dress code is all black. Men: no ties or jackets required; women: short or long dresses or trousers are all fine.
The programme for 2026 is tbc – below if the 2025 programme as an example:
Rossini: Overture to The Barber of Seville
Verdi: Va, pensiero / Brindisi
Donizetti: Saria possibile
Rossini: Dal tuo stellato soglio
Beethoven: Symphony No.8 in F
For the wind and brass: some doubling, swapping, sitting out etc may be needed but this will be kept to a minimum.
Course Fee
Refer to the Cost page for details of the amount to pay. Please note that your place is not secured until you have paid the full course fee.
Customs
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 restricted 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 (it’s detailed, and written for professionals, but is still relevant).
It’s very unlikely that you would have a problem, but it’s not impossible …
Dates
The 2026 course dates are Sunday 25 October to Saturday 31 October, with the first event being a meeting with Matteo (the organiser from Lugo) at 16.00 on the Sunday afternoon. The concert will be on Friday 31 October in Lugo. Then, on the Saturday (as last year), there will be time for an excursion, plus a final meal/party. Hence, it would be ideal if you were to arrive on the Saturday and leave the following Sunday (24 Oct – 1 Nov). However, you are welcome to arrive earlier and to stay longer should you wish. It may be possible to arrive after 26 October – please enquire.
Excursions/Events
There will be several excursions/events organised during the week.
- A welcome meal at a local restaurant
- A short meeting with the mayor of Lugo plus a behind-the-scenes tour of Lugo
- A final meal/event at a local venue (with local folk music)
- Some other excursions and some optional events – see the details on the Schedule below.
You are, of course, welcome to go on trips of your own. Lugo is well connected by train, and you can easily get to many interesting towns and cities, and the coast beyond Ravenna is also accessible.
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 need help.
There is a Facebook group for the course, which you are welcome to join if you have signed up to come, or have been in a previous year:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/121043465193141
Food
Food that is included in the course fee will be provided as follows: at Sunday’s welcome meal, during the Wednesday excursion and at the final party on Saturday. We will ask you if you have any dietary requirements nearer the start of the course. Aside from those meals (and breakfast, if included with your accommodation) you are responsible for finding your own food. There is excellent food to be had in Lugo, and it isn’t expensive. Matteo (our man in Lugo) will make some recommendations at Sunday’s ‘Welcome session’.
Language
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.
If you speak any Italian the locals will be delighted! Certainly not everyone will speak English but enough have a smattering to make standard interactions possible. There are always a few of the orchestra who speak passable (or better) Italian, so rope in their help as needed and you shouldn’t have any problems.
Large instruments
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 Italy, therefore avoiding the challenges involved in transportation. There would be a small hire charge. A limited number of such instruments will be available so please enquire early about this.
Lugo
Lugo is a town of about 30,000 inhabitants, so there are all the usual amenities (shops, restaurants, cashpoints, post office, pharmacies, etc).
As a meeting place we will use Gingerino Caffè, 6 via Baracca. We may use this to meet up all together at some point, but this is also a good place you can meet up with people for coffee, snacks, lunch etc.
Mobility
If you have mobility problems please let us know. We would want to ensure, for example, that your accommodation is easily accessible to you.
Problems etc
For anything to do with trips please contact Norma.
For anything to do with the musical side of the week contact Peter.
You will be given their phone numbers in due course.
If you have an emergency whilst in Italy, 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.
Rehearsals
See the schedule below for details of the rehearsals.
The rehearsal venue is tbc, but we hope it will be same venue we have previously used:
On foot: Church Hall, Piazza Savonarola 1
By car: Via Fratelli Cortesi 2/1
Please meet at the Ala d’Oro hotel (56 Via Giacomo Matteotti) at 17.15 on the Sunday to walk to the rehearsal venue. If you’re not there we will assume you know the way!
One rehearsal will be sectionals (strings/wind).
Music stands will be provided this year 🙂 … a stand light is recommended.
Your music will be provided, 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 May, and the parts will be available to download/view here.
There may be a space where you can play chamber music and/or practise. It may be possible to arrange some chamber music coaching – please enquire.
Schedule
The draft 2026 schedule is below – please note timings/costs etc are not yet confirmed.
Organised, optional, activities which you pay for separately, are indicated in green (anything else is included in the fee).
Click on the (blue) links for photos or other info.
Sun: 16.00 Welcome session / 17.30-19.00 rehearsal / 20.00 Welcome dinner at Ristorante Tatì
Mon: Trip to Imola (20 mins by train), to include coffee by the Fortress, visit to the Imola international piano school, visit to Palazzo Tozzoni and the F1 circuit, lunch [cost c. € 15 + lunch] / 16.00-18.30 rehearsal
Tue: 09.30-11.00 rehearsal / 11.30 playing to children in local primary school / 17.30-19.30 rehearsal / live jazz music dinner [€ 30]
Wed: Trip to Brisighella (30 mins by coach), to include visit to a working olive oil mill (inc. tour + tasting), traditional lunch, visit to Via degli Asinelli (Donkey Street), the Clock Tower, and the Fortress / 18.00-19.30 short, optional, personal music sessions with Peter or Nikki.
Thu: 09.30-12.00 rehearsal / 12.30-c.15.00 pasta workshop [€ 20], talk about creation of Italian flag / 17.00-19.30 rehearsal
Fri: 10.00 Workshop on local (Romagnola) folk music [€ 15] / 14.00 Visit to Lugo museums about Rossini and Baracca / 18.00 rehearsal / 20.30 concert in Lugo
Sat: time to visit Ravenna or Bologna or other places of your choice / evening party with dinner, including music from folk musicians from Friday workshop.
Strings/reeds etc
We recommend that you bring your own spare strings/reeds etc. There is a music shop in Lugo, ‘Back Corner Music Shop’, 68 Via Piratello, about a mile from the centre of Lugo, and although it’s more of a rock music shop it does have some strings and clarinet reeds (other things can be ordered). Its phone number is +39 0545 010088, Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/backcornermusicshop/
Travel
NB You must book and pay for your own travel.
1. By air
- Most airlines offer flights a long way ahead.
- 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.
- You will be informed if there are other participants on the same flight as you.
Whilst it is quite possible to fly to Venice or Florence and go on to Lugo by train, Bologna airport is much closer. Currently British Airways and Ryanair have direct flights from the UK to Bologna.
Here there is a list of other airlines which serve Bologna from other countries: Bologna Airport. If you are prepared to change, then there are many more possibilities again.
From Bologna Airport we suggest travel to Bologna Centrale (the central station) via the Marconi Express monorail, which takes about 7 minutes and costs about € 12, and then get a train from the central station to Lugo which takes about 40 minutes. They are usually once per hour.
Flight examples (as of Jan 2026):
Saturday 24 October (London to Bologna)
Ryanair: 12.45 – 15.50 (Stansted) OR 17.45 – 20.55 (Luton) OR 19:00 – 22:05 (Stansted)
British Airways: 16:55 – 20:10 (Heathrow) OR 20:25 – 23:35
Sunday 25 October (London to Bologna)
Ryanair: 11.45 – 15.05 (Stansted)
British Airways: 08:05 – 11:20 (Heathrow)
Sunday 1 November (Bologna to London)
Ryanair: 10.00 – 11.20 (Stansted) OR 16.10 – 17.30 (Stansted)
British Airways: 07.15 – 09.00 (Heathrow) OR 12.20 – 13.50 (Heathrow) OR 19.35 – 20.55 (Heathrow)
2. By train
I’ve travelled from the UK to Italy by train many times – it’s wonderful and well worth it if you’re not in a hurry! You get to go through the Alps, which is a wonderful stretch of train track, whichever route you take!
All the information you will need can be found here. To give an example of the current simplest route from the UK, you firstly take the Eurostar to Paris, then travel with TGV or Trenitalia to Turin or Milan, then finally to Bologna/Lugo. That is Option 1 on the linked page. Times are not yet available, but here is an example from February 2026:
London – Italy (Saturday)
St Pancras – Paris Gare du Nord: 07.31 – 10.59 (gives you enough time for a nice Parisian lunch!) OR 09.31 – 12.59 … you should allow no less than an hour to get from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon)
Paris Gare de Lyon – Milan: 14.45 – 21.53
Stay overnight in Milan then:
Sunday
Milan – Bologna: 09.20 – 12.09
Bologna – Lugo: 13.05 – 13.46
3. Arrival in Lugo by train
Coming out of Lugo station there are two exits: go up the stairs to the right if you’re ok to carry luggage up the stairs, if not then carry straight on and go up the ramp, then turn back on yourself to go back to the station entrance. The road you want for Hotel Ala d’Oro (Viale Rossini!) is directly opposite the station entrance, as in this picture. For Dimora Deco, go to the left from the station, to the roundabout and take the right-hand road (V.le degli Orsini), as in this picture. They are both roughly 10 minutes walk.