Program Details

Tuition: $5,200

(College credit up to a value of $2,888 or more)

Considering all that is included, this is one of the lowest priced one-month programs for music language study in Italy.  Included in the price:

• Italian classes and textbooks
• Private voice lessons and coaching 
• Opera scene direction
• Concerts
• Excursions
• Housing at the double room rate in a hotel in the city center.

Payment Dates: Students accepted into the program need to make a non-refundable deposit of $1000 by February 3rd. Scholarship awards do not count as a deposit. The final payment is due by April 3rd. 

Financial Services: Urbino has several banks with ATM machines. The Italians prefer Visa or MasterCard and often do not accept American Express. You are better off taking money out of ATMs than bringing cash because the exchange rates are better on the ATMs than at your local bank. Be sure to notify your credit or debit card company of your travel dates. If you have the ability to use the ATM, I would not bring more than 100 euros for incidental travel expenses. 

Dates:

Participants should plan to arrive on Saturday, June 21 Do not forget that you will arrive a calendar day later than your departure date and depart Urbino on Saturday, July 19.

Instruction:

• 20 hours of Italian language instruction a week, with possible college credit (a value up to $2,888 or more depending on tuition at your university)
• Over the course of the one-month program, students will receive at least 2 voice lessons a week and at least 2 coachings. Students receive at least 1 coaching with our dramatic coach and Director, along with daily rehearsals on Opera Scenes and some choral/ensemble rehearsals.

Performances:

Each season we perform in our host city of Urbino, and include venues in Fermignano, Gradara and Piagge, to name a few. Performances include a concert with a local community chorus where our singers are the featured soloists as well as participating in of the opera choral music. We offer a second concert of solo repertoire along with some ensemble pieces that include perennial Italian favorites. Our final performances are the culmination of our Opera Scenes program where we perform at Urbino’s Teatro Sanzio, a beautiful 18th century opera house. All participants will have opportunities to perform solo repertoire at these concerts.

Expectations:

If you are accepted to the program and agree to come, you are expected to have your choral music, scenes and arias memorized and ready to perform in the first week. We schedule lessons day to day depending on faculty input evaluating your needs. You will know your schedule the night before your morning Italian class.

Housing:

The price includes a shared double room in a hotel in the city center and free Wi-Fi. Single rooms are an option, based on availability and will include a supplemental charge of $225. By pricing the program in U.S. dollars, Musica nelle Marche assumes the exchange rate risk if the dollar falls against the euro.

Transportation:

Airfare is not included and is the responsibility of each participant.

**Designated airport: Bologna: You will be met at the airport and taken to the Bologna central station where you will take a train to Pesaro. A staff member will meet you in Pesaro and put you on the bus to Urbino where you will be met at the bus station and taken to your hotel.

Travel recommendations: We would not recommend Rome and Milan airports because they are far away from Urbino and will add 5 to 6 hours to your travel. While you may save $100 or more on a flight to Rome or Milan, you will spend that savings in train, taxi, bus fares and travel fatigue. If you fly to an airport other than Bologna, it will be your responsibility to get to Pesaro where we will meet you up. When booking your airline ticket, consider all the costs including the train, taxis, buses and even an overnight hotel stay if you arrive early or leave late. Train schedules and costs can be found on www.trenitalia.com

Recommended on-line travel sites are Kayak, Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity. Look at more than one since prices will vary depending upon deals these travel sites have with the airlines. There are some low-cost airlines in Europe, but they often charge for your bags and fly to non-major airports. Some students have found that they can find a cheap flight from New York to Italy and can use miles or low-cost airlines to get to New York, so check all possibilities. Make sure you have enough time in transfer airports to connect to your next flight. I would recommend 2 hours, which gives you leeway in case your flight arrives late and passport lines are long.  

Baggage: Airlines charge for baggage and the fee for overweight or excess baggage can be steep. In previous years we have had students paying up to 100 Euros for overweight bags. You will have laundry facilities available to you and so please plan appropriately and bring no more than one large suitcase and the two allowed carry-on bags. Remember whatever you bring you will have to carry up and down stairs at train stations. 

Excursions/Cultural Events included in the program fee:

Contacts:
Please feel free to email with any questions you may have or for more information. Look at the FAQs (frequently asked questions) on our website.

e-mail: info@musicanellemarche.com