International Alba Music Festival

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Chamber Singers of St. Mary's College of Maryland would go on tour for two weeks in May, performing in a variety of major European centers. In 2000, the tour included instrumental students and key faculty. This experience led us to the idea of seeking a regular European home for these May activities, open to all of our students who wished to participate. For 2001-2003, we decided on a residency at a music conservatory in Saluzzo (in the Piemonte region of northern Italy).

Students and faculty from SMCM perform with Italian musicians at the International Alba Music Festival.

In 2004, the residency shifted to Alba (also in the Piemonte region), a move that coincided with the initiation of the International Alba Music Festival. The move to Alba came about because our regular presence in the region which allowed us to find the ideal setting for our activities, one that would provide the best educational and performing setting for our students.

First on tour, then in Saluzzo, and now with the Alba Festival, our students' participation has been (and continues to be) made possible by the generous sponsorship of Alice Waldschmitt, whose gifts underwrite about half of SMCM student costs (air tickets, room, board, instructional costs).

The SMCM Chamber Chorus has performed in Europe each summer since the 1980s.

Alba is the capital of the Italian wine industry. It is to Italy what Bordeaux is to France. Major industries in Alba, including Cerreto Wines and Ferrero Chocolates, make Alba Italy's second richest area. Alba has two concert halls, five major churches (which are wonderful performance venues), several pedestrian/shopping districts, and, since Roman times, has been considered, even in Italy, a place of extraordinarily fine cuisine (Alba is where Italy's finest truffles are harvested).

The International Alba Music Festival is an intensive two-week experience, combining study and performing. Our faculty is joined by an international roster of performers from throughout Europe who come to Alba to perform and interact with our faculty and students.

Beginning in 2005, we will expand our curriculum to include composition studies.

For more information about the International Alba Music Festival, contact Jeff Silberschlag.