Choral Trekking
Sunday 23 June | 9 a.m.
Val Saisera (area B)
in cooperation with Feniarco
- Choral walk from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. accompanied by guide Davide Tonazzi;
- Packed lunch at 1.00 p.m. approx;
- Final performance at about 5.00 p.m. at Festival Risonanze Concert Area.
- For logistical/organisational info contact info@feniarco.it
How to enrol?
Participation in the choral trek is free of charge after filling out the registration form (for groups of 5 and more, it is possible to simplify the procedure by filling out a single request from the contact person and attaching the list of participants on the excel file that you can download here).
What is a choral trekking?
From an idea of Matteo Valbusa, an experience was born that combines the passion for choral singing with that for nature: choral trekking. To sing together in the open air, meet new people, visit exciting places, find serenity and psycho-physical well-being.
What exactly is involved in choral trekking?
- a medium-level walk with a packed lunch to discover breathtaking views;
- along the way, you stop every so often to rehearse 4-5 songs, provided in advance, thus forming a real choir;
- finally you sing in public, creating a fantastic final flash-mob!
The choral trek is open to singers of all ages, conductors and musicians, as well as enthusiasts who want to experience choral singing. Children and accompanying persons may also participate in the trek.
Scores will be provided in advance with mp3 studio tracks to arrive prepared. Singing will be exclusively a cappella, SATB ensemble.
The Itinerary: From the P6 car park at Malga Saisera, along CAI path no. 611 we will reach the Fratelli Grego Refuge, and then continue to Sella Sompdogna, visiting the small lakes and the malga. We will return to Val Saisera via the new road that descends from the hut.
Routes and music programmes may be subject to change. In the event of adverse weather forecasts, the excursion will be cancelled on the previous day.
Compulsory equipment: printed and bound sheet music (provided by Feniarco), pencil and eraser, hiking shoes (carved sole), rucksack, suitable clothing, packed lunch, water bottle, hat or bandana, sun cream, k-way or other clothing in case of light rain.
Who is Matteo Valbusa?
A musician and teacher from Verona, born in 1981, he specialises in choir and orchestra conducting. He works with various ensembles, teaches conducting and collaborates with the most important European choral institutions, dealing versatilely with every musical genre. After classical high school he graduated brilliantly in cultural heritage sciences, in choir conducting with P.P. Scattolin and with L. Donati, in orchestra conducting with G. Andretta, in Renaissance and Baroque singing with V. Di Donato. He specialised at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, the Accademia Chigiana in Siena and the European Academy for Choral Conductors in Fano. He deepened his knowledge of various musical styles with A. Tasso, M. Berrini, V. Bono, N. Corti, V. Di Donato, M. Hyökki, S. Kuret, M. Lanaro, S. Parkman, A. Quarta, R. Rasmussen, J. Yngwe. Awarded in many national and international choral competitions (Vittorio Veneto, Arezzo, Riva del Garda and others), he received the prize for best conductor 5 times. He participated twice in the Europa Cantat International Competition for Choral Conductors, winning the third prize in 2011 in Budapest and the prize for the best performance of Renaissance music in 2009 in Ljubljana.
In autumn 2019, he conducted the Choir of the Fondazione Arena di Verona in the opera choir concerts Fuoco di gioia and G. Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore at the Teatro Filarmonico in Verona. He has led the Coro Lirico Veneto and other choirs for opera productions at the Teatro Sociale in Rovigo, Teatro Verdi in Padua, Teatro Del Monaco in Treviso, and Aleksander Hall in Cortina. He has conducted symphonic programmes with the Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto and symphonic-choral programmes with the Orchestra Interpreti Italiani, the Ensemble Il Falcone, the Orchestra Giovani Archi Veneti, and the Orchestra Amadeus, participating in festivals such as Il Settembre dell’Accademia of the Accademia Filarmonica di Verona. He conducts renowned choirs such as Insieme Corale Ecclesia Nova, the Men’s Choir La Stele and the Marc’Antonio Ingegneri Choir in a repertoire ranging from ancient polyphony to contemporary music. With these groups he has performed throughout Italy and abroad in major festivals and won prizes in national and international choral competitions. He is also called upon as guest conductor by choirs throughout Italy. He teaches choir conducting and choral composition at the Conservatory of Vibo Valentia and, since 2013, he has been teacher and coordinator of the Piergiorgio Righele Academy of Choral Conducting. He is often invited to give courses, masterclasses and lectures, and to serve on juries in important choral and choral conducting competitions throughout Europe. In 2011, he was invited to hold a course on Italian choral music at the University of Colima, Mexico, conducting the University Choir in the Es a Voz Festival. He has held stages and masterclasses for important institutions such as the Fondazione Guido D’Arezzo, Feniarco and various regional Italian choral associations. Since 2011, he has been passionately spreading music also among the youngest, teaching in several schools in Verona. He is artistic director of the International Festival Voce! in Bosco Chiesanuova, the Dodekantus Festival in Verona and the Caecilia Virgo Choir and Organ Competition. In 2020, he devised the online guided listening cycle La corona musicale and Choral trekking, a programme of open-air choral singing days. He was a member of the Feniarco Youth Commission for three years, and of the ASAC Veneto Artistic Commission for nine years.
www.matteovalbusa.it