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
2nd - 11th May 2025
Symphonic Holiday
3rd - 12th October 2025
Symphonic Holiday
Cefalù, 2nd - 11th May 2025
Conductor: Cayenna Ponchione
Violin: Hande Küden
MORFYDD OWEN, Nocturne
JEAN SIBELIUS, Violin concerto
JOHANNES BRAHMS, Symphony No. 4
Confirmed
The minimum group size was reached, for which reason this Symphonic Holiday is confirmed to go ahead.
Vacancies
We still have places for bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, strings
SCHEDULE
2nd May 2025
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. Instruction by the coaches will be given on the first three days.
In the afternoons you can explore Cefalù, relax on the beach or make short sightseeing trips to near places.
7th May 2025
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.
10th May 2025
Final concert. In the evening we will have our farewell dinner.
11th May 2025
Departure
ORCHESTRA
Nocturne: 2[1/pic] 2[1/Eh] 2 2 — 4 2 3 1 — tmp+1 — hp — str
Violin concerto: 2 2 2 2 — 4 2 3 0 — tmp — str
Symphony: 2[1.2/pic] 2 2 3[1.2.cbn] — 4 2 3 0 — tmp+1 — str
TEAM
Conductor: Cayenna Ponchione
Soloist / coach violin: Hande Küden
Coach viola: Vincenzo Schembri
Coach cello: Adriano Ancarani
Coach winds: Laurine Marmi
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
1.230,- € including
- accommodation
- lunch and dinner, except two dinners
- bus transfers on the excursion and to concert venue
Students: 820,- €. The reduced fee for students is limited to the number of five places on this Symphonic Holiday.
Supplement for single room: 290,- €
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 2nd February 2025
Minimum group size 30 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, 3rd - 12th October 2025
Conductor: David Curtis
BÉLA BARTÓK, Concerto for Orchestra
AMY BEACH, Gaelic Symphony
Vacancies
We still have places for one oboe (1st / 2nd), clarinet (3rd, also bass clarinet), one horn, trombone (2nd), timpani, strings
With Amy on the beach
More and more players every year join us from the USA and Canada. Most of them will already know the Gaelic Symphony by the American composer Amy Beach (1867-1944). The symphony was premiered 1996 by the Boston Symphony with exceptional success and still today is often played also by American amateur orchestras. Now this music will be made available in Sicily for amateur players from around the world.
Béla Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra is one of his most popular compositions and will be a real challenge for the Filarmonici di Cefalù. But David Curtis who in 2022 has successfully mastered with us Mathis der Maler by Hindemith, will also this time safely guide us through this interesting and intricate music. And at the end of the rehearsals, we will deserve a Tóktail at the bar.
SCHEDULE
3rd October 2025
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. Instruction by the coaches will be given on the first three days.
In the afternoons you can explore Cefalù, relax on the beach or make short sightseeing trips to near places.
8th October 2025
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.
11th October 2025
Final concert. In the evening we will have our farewell dinner.
12th October 2025
Departure
ORCHESTRA
Concerto for Orchestra: 3[1.2.3/pic] 3[1.2.3/Eh] 3[1.2.3/bcl] 3[1.2.3/cbn] — 4 3 3 1 — tmp+1 — 2hp — str
Symphony: 3[1.2.pic] 3[1.2.Eh] 3[1.2.bcl(A)] 2 — 4 2 3 1 — tmp+1 — str
TEAM
Conductor: David Curtis
Coach violin: Rodrigo Bauzá
Coach viola: Louis Merlet
Coach cello: Constance Ricard
Wind sectionals with David Curtis.
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
1.230,- € including
- accommodation
- lunch and dinner, except two dinners
- bus transfers on the excursion and to concert venue
Students: 820,- €. The reduced fee for students is limited to the number of five places on this Symphonic Holiday.
Supplement for single room: 290,- €
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 3rd July 2025
Minimum group size 30 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.