Cefalù
Cefalù is the most vibrant of our destinations; a small town known for its picturesque historic centre with direct access to a wonderful beach. Sicily’s climate in autumn is normally still mild enough to allow swimming in the sea.
Cefalù is situated only 65 km east of Palermo, and together the two towns boast numerous noteworthy ancient monuments. Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Church of Cefalù together form a series of religious and community buildings dating from the era of the Norman kingdom of Sicily. Collectively, they are an outstanding example of a socio-cultural union between Western, Islamic and Byzantine cultures and, as such, are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The mountains of the Cefalù hinterland and the Parco delle Madonie natural reserve are ideal for both restful recreation and animated activities.
Coming next in Cefalù:
Symphonic Holiday
30th April - 9th May 2026
Symphonic Holiday
15th - 24th October 2026

Symphonic Holiday
Cefalù, 30th April - 9th May 2026
Conductor: Cayenna Ponchione
Violin: Nathaniel Anderson-Frank
KAIJA SAARIAHO, Ciel d'hiver
IGOR STRAVINSKY, Violin Concerto D major
PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY, Symphony No.6 (Pathétique)
Vacancies
We still have places for one horn, trumpet, trombone, strings
SCHEDULE
30th April 2026
Arrival of the participants in Cefalù and welcome dinner
ON THE FOLLOWING DAYS,
rehearsals (sectionals and tutti) will be in the morning until lunch and in the evening after an early dinner. Three sectionals with coaches on 2, 3 and 4 May
In the afternoons you can explore Cefalù, relax on the beach or make short sightseeing trips to near places.
5th May 2026
On this day we go on an excursion by bus into the wonderful Natural Reserve Parco delle Madonie with its great variety of flora and fauna, stunning scenery and lovely towns.
8th May 2026
Final concert in the Cathedral of Cefalù, followed by the farewell dinner.
9th May 2026
Departure
ORCHESTRA
Ciel d'hiver: 3[1.2.pic] 2 2 2[1.2/cbn] — 4 2 2[1.btbn] 1 — tmp+2 — hp — pf, cel — str [12.10.8.6.4] — perc: crot (Glockenspiel), windchimes, tri, tamtam, vib, bd, shell chimes, 3sus cym, hand bell
Violin concerto: 3[1.2.pic] 3[1.2.Eh] 3[1.2.Ebcl] 3[1.2.3/cbn] — 4 3 3 1 — tmp+1 — str — perc: [1player] bd, tmp
Symphony: 3[1.2.3/pic] 2 2 2 — 4 2 3 1 — tmp+2 — str perc: — bd, cym, tamtam
TEAM
Conductor: Cayenna Ponchione
Soloist / coach violin: Nathaniel Anderson-Frank
Coach viola: Vincenzo Schembri
Coach cello: Adriano Ancarani
Coach winds: Jaime González
GENERAL INFORMATION / FAQ
Please do also read our general information with frequently asked questions on Symphonic Holidays.
ACCOMMODATION
The participants will be accommodated in various apartments in the historic centre of Cefalù. Single or double rooms
MEALS
We will take our meals (lunch and dinner) together at the seafront restaurants "Al Gabbiano", "Al Porticciolo" and "Lo Scoglio Ubriaco".
TRAVEL
The nearest airport is Palermo. Train services from Palermo airport to Cefalù with change in Palermo, travel time 2 - 2,5 h. We help to arrange taxi service from the airport of Palermo to Cefalù if there is a sufficient number of requests at the same time.
From Catania airport, train connection to Cefalù with change in Termini Imerese or Messina, travel time 3,5 - 4,5 h.
We are happy to help you with organizing your trip!
PRICE
1.280,- € including
- accommodation
- lunch and dinner, except two dinners
- bus transfers on the excursion and to concert venue
- Price without accommodation: 980,- €
Students: 870,- €. The reduced fee for students is limited to the number of five places on this Symphonic Holiday.
Supplement for single room: 300,- €
BOOKING
If you wish to book this Symphonic Holiday, kindly use the booking form or send us an e.mail (mail@dacapo-travel.eu, writing in English, German, French or Italian). Your booking is binding as soon as we have confirmed it.
A non-refundable deposit of 150,- € is payable on confirmation that a booking has been accepted. The balance of the price is to be paid by 30th January 2026
Minimum group size 40 participants. We might decide to cancel a programme if at any time up to three month before there were insufficient bookings. We would refund everything you had paid to us. We do not refund your travel expenses if you had booked your trip (for example flights or trains) prior to our confirmation of the programme.


Radio
Journalist and violists Elke Kamprad from Freiburg / Germany had joined the Symphonic Holiday in Cefalù October 2023 and has produced a radio feature on this kind of musical vacation.
The feature was transmitted on 14th July 2024 on NDR Kultur, a radio station which is part of the German public broadcasting network. You can listen to the feature here.

Symphonic Holiday
Cefalù, 15th - 24th October 2026
Conductor: Swann van Rechem
OLIVIER MESSIAEN, L'Ascension, 4 méditations symphoniques
DMITRY SHOSTAKOVICH, Symphony No. 5
Vacancies
We still have places for violin, viola, double bass and tuba
SCHEDULE
15th October 2026
Arrival of the participants in Cefalù and welcome dinner
ON THE FOLLOWING DAYS,
rehearsals (sectionals and tutti) will be in the morning until lunch and in the evening after an early dinner. Three sectionals with coaches on 17, 18 and 19 October
In the afternoons you can explore Cefalù, relax on the beach or make short sightseeing trips to near places.
20th October 2026
On this day we go on an excursion by bus into the wonderful Natural Reserve Parco delle Madonie with its great variety of flora and fauna, stunning scenery and lovely towns.
23rd October 2026
Final concert followed by the farewell dinner.
24th October 2026
Departure
ORCHESTRA
L'Ascension: 3 3[1.2.Eh] 3[1.2.bcl] 3 — 4 3 3 1 — tmp+3 — str — perc: bd, cym, tambn, tri
Symphony: 3[1.2.pic] 2 3[1.2.Ebcl] 3[1.2.cbn] — 4 3 3 1 — tmp+4 — 2hp[1part] — pf/cel — str — perc: xyl, glock, tri, sd, cym, tamtam, bd
TEAM
Conductor: Swann van Rechem
Coach violin: Rodrigo Bauzá (to be confirmed)
Coach viola: Vincenzo Schembri
Coach cello: Constance Ricard (to be confirmed)
Coach winds: nn
GENERAL INFORMATION / FAQ
Please do also read our general information with frequently asked questions on Symphonic Holidays.
ACCOMMODATION
The participants will be accommodated in various apartments in the historic centre of Cefalù. Single or double rooms
MEALS
We will take our meals (lunch and dinner) together at the seafront restaurants "Al Gabbiano", "Al Porticciolo" and "Lo Scoglio Ubriaco".
TRAVEL
The nearest airport is Palermo. Train services from Palermo airport to Cefalù with change in Palermo, travel time 2 - 2,5 h. We help to arrange taxi service from the airport of Palermo to Cefalù if there is a sufficient number of requests at the same time.
From Catania airport, train connection to Cefalù with change in Termini Imerese or Messina, travel time 3,5 - 4,5 h.
We are happy to help you with organizing your trip!
PRICE
1.280,- € including
- accommodation
- lunch and dinner, except two dinners
- bus transfers on the excursion and to concert venue
- Price without accommodation: 980,- €
Students: 870,- €. The reduced fee for students is limited to the number of five places on this Symphonic Holiday.
Supplement for single room: 300,- €
BOOKING
If you wish to book this Symphonic Holiday, kindly use the booking form or send us an e.mail (mail@dacapo-travel.eu, writing in English, German, French or Italian). Your booking is binding as soon as we have confirmed it.
A non-refundable deposit of 150,- € is payable on confirmation that a booking has been accepted. The balance of the price is to be paid by 15th July 2026
Minimum group size 40 participants. We might decide to cancel a programme if at any time up to three month before there were insufficient bookings. We would refund everything you had paid to us. We do not refund your travel expenses if you had booked your trip (for example flights or trains) prior to our confirmation of the programme.

Who is coming?
Gillian, an amateur violinist from London, shares her experience of being on a Symphonic Holiday in Cefalù / Sicily. Read more ...
Die Musik trägt
Elke Kamprad, a journalist and amateur violist from Freiburg / Germany, has joined us on the Symphonic Holiday in Cefalù October 2023. Her report about amateur musicians on holiday was published on 3rd January 2024 in the German newspaper Badische Zeitung. Click here to read the article.




































Jonas Hees a fondé da capo orchestra & travel en 2016 avec Frédéric Tschumi. Violoncelliste amateur, il est aujourd’hui responsable de la gestion de da capo et de ses programmes. Chargé d’organiser la Sinfonietta à Bardou pendant plusieurs années, cette riche expérience lui a donné l’idée de développer et d´élargir le concept de vacances musicales à des musiciens amateurs. En tant que cuisinier passionné, il saura aussi mettre toute son attention pour vous proposer d’excellents repas durant vos vacances.


