I. International Summer Organ Academy &  “V. Guidi” Competition

The ISOA is an innovative organ academy—a summer program that will change its location annually to facilitate the exploration of the organ repertoire through collaborations with renowned musicians and the opportunity to discover and perform on unique, locally significant instruments. For this inaugural edition, we will be visiting the charming city of Anghiari in the Tuscany region, as well as Arezzo.

Participants will have the chance to experience exceptional instruments, such as the Luca da Cortona Organ of Arezzo’s Cathedral, dating back to 1534, as well as the Pinchi Organ of the Santuario del Carmine of Anghiari and to immerse themselves in locations rich in history and culture. The faculty for this edition includes Stefano Molardi (Italy), Jean-Pierre Steijvers (The Netherlands), and Eugenio Maria Fagiani (Italy).

The academy will be held from August 18th to August 24th. At the conclusion of the program, the first ISOA International Organ Competition “Virgilio Guidi” will take place, on August 23rd, with the top performers receiving very special awards.

The program is limited to a maximum of 12 participants but is open to all auditioning musicians eager to deepen their understanding of organ music and the repertoire to be performed during the week. 

Each day, there will be a minimum of four hours of lessons, and the Anghiari instrument will be fully available for individual practice. On two days, lessons will be held on the Cathedral of Arezzo's instrument.

Academy repertoire

Jean-Pierre Steijvers

G. Muffat: Toccata secunda; Toccata duodecima et ultima

D. Buxtehude: Praeludium in g BuxWV 148; Praeludium in g BuxWV 149

J.S. Bach: Toccata et Fuga in d minor (Dorian) BWV 538;

Passacaglia BWV 582; Praeludium et Fuga in b minor

BWV 544; Chorale Preludes from the Leipzig Autograph (Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend 

BWV 655; Von Gott will ich nicht lassen BWV 658; Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr 

BWV 662-663-664; Vor deinen Thron tret' ich BWV 668.

Eugenio Maria Fagiani

Organ music from the Classical period by: W.A. Mozart, F. Mendelssohn, C.H. Rinck

Stefano Molardi

M.A. Cavazzoni: Complete Works (ed. Il Levante)

C. Merulo: Toccate e Canzoni

H.L. Hassler: Magnificat octavi toni (Ed. Il Levante, p. 121-133)

G. Frescobaldi: Fiori musicali; Toccate from the Libro Primo and Libro Secondo; Capriccio sopra la sol fa re mi

J.U. Steigleder from the Tabulatur Buch: Darinnen daß Vatter unser (1627); n. 1 Fantasia, oder fugen Manier; n. 40 “auff Toccata Manier”

J.J. Froberger: any of the Toccate e Canzoni from the Libro secondo (1649) or Libro quarto (1656); Capriccio VI FbWV 506 (1658)

M. Weckmann: Toccata in d n. 4; Toccata in a n. 8; Canzon in G n. 14 (Ed. Bärenreiter BA8189)

Mandatory program for the Competition

Two pieces from those listed below. One by a pre-Bach

composer and one by Bach:

G. Muffat: Toccata secunda OR Toccata duodecima

OR

D. Buxthehude: Praeludium BuxWV 148 OR BuxWV 149

AND

J.S. Bach: one Choral Prelude (as in course program)

OR Praeludium et Fuga in b minor BWV 544 

OR Passacaglia BWV 582 

OR Toccata et Fuga in d minor (Dorian) BWV 538

One piece between:

C.H. Rinck Finale from the Flute Concerto op. 55

OR F. Mendelssohn, Finale from the 4th Sonata

OR F. Mendelssohn, Fugue in f minor (Breitkopf or Bärenreiter edition)

OR W.A. Mozart, Fugue from the F minor Fantasia KV 608

One or two composizione between:

M.A. Cavazzoni: Madame vous avez mon cuor

C. Merulo: one of the Toccatas (from the second book,1604)

One Canzone from the G. Frescobaldi or J.J. Froberger ones.

One piece by M. Weckmann between the n. 4, 8 or 14 (as in the course program)

The instruments

The two main instruments that are the protagonists of this academy are particularly interesting. To get to know their technical details, organ disposition, and history better, visit this links:

Organo Maggiore (1534-1536) as well as the Organo Pinchi (2006-2022): https://it.wikibooks.org/wiki/Disposizioni_foniche_di_organi_a_canne/Italia/Toscana/Provincia_di_Arezzo/Arezzo/Arezzo_-_Cattedrale_dei_Santi_Pietro_e_Donato#Organo_Pinchi_(2006-2022)

Enrolling

Active participants, performers, will be limited to no more than 12 and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration fee for the Academy is €350 and includes entry to the Organ Competition scheduled for August 23, 2025. 

The fee for audit students of the Academy, which grants access to all lessons, is €150.

E-mail address: isoac2025@gmail.com

Phone number +39 3470468500

Accomodation

There is availability, for a limited number of guests, to stay at the Sanctuary of Carmine in Anghiari, in the guesthouse at a special price. In this case as well, accommodation will be reserved for those who request it in order of arrival of the requests. If needed, the organization can assist in finding accommodation solutions.

How to get to Anghiari

Arriving by plane, you can arrive in Florence or Rome and then travel by train to Arezzo. Near the main train station, there is the Arezzo Terminal on Via Marconi, from which a bus departs connecting the city to Anghiari. 

The relevant line is SI381 Arezzo-Sansepolcro-Città di Castello-Lerchi, operated by Sitabus, which takes less than an hour to reach the destination. In case of special needs, direct car transportation from the city to Anghiari can be arranged.