The Philadelphia International Music Festival is an intensive classical music training program created in 1997 to provide a setting for young musicians to study with principal players and other members of The Philadelphia Orchestra.
The program, co-founded by Sandy Marcucci and Kimberly Fisher, Principal Second Violin of The Philadelphia Orchestra, began as a six-day program for local musicians. It soon blossomed into a four-week summer festival hosting students from throughout the United States and around the globe and now includes winter programming as well.
In 2021, PIMF added to its myriad programming "Music in the Mansion" - a winter solo performance intensive for advanced string players held annually at the luxurious Casa Tranquila Estate in Miami, Florida, where students study with members of The Philadelphia Orchestra to prepare for upcoming solo performances and competitions.
That popular program underpins the new PIMF Vanoli-Cremona Music Festival in Italy, starting in Summer 2025, for piano and string musicians. Students work with faculty from The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Curtis Institute of Music and deepen their musical connection with explorations of this fascinating and historic part of the world.
PIMF Vanoli-Cremona Faculty
Kimberly Fisher joined The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1992 and became principal second violin in 2002. She has appeared as soloist with numerous orchestras, including repeatedly with The Philadelphia Orchestra (her debut was in February 2002), and the Vancouver and Victoria symphonies in Canada. As a recitalist and chamber musician she has performed across the United States and Canada, and in many countries in Europe, Asia, and South America in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Mogador Theater in Paris, the Kimmel Center, and the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and in collaborations with internationally renowned artists such as Wolfgang Sawallisch, Christoph Eschenbach, and Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and many others.
Ms. Fisher has been awarded multiple Canada Council grants and was invited to perform as soloist at the Governor General’s concert in Canada. She has been featured on National Canadian Radio and on Canada’s CBC television. Her teachers have included her father, Lawrence Fisher; Yumi Ninomiya Scott; Aaron Rosand; David Cerone; and Jascha Brodsky. In 2017 she received The Philadelphia Orchestra’s C. Hartman Kuhn Award, given annually to “the member of The Philadelphia Orchestra who has shown ability and enterprise of such character as to enhance the standards and the reputation of The Philadelphia Orchestra.”
In 1997 Ms. Fisher co-founded the Philadelphia International Music Festival (PIMF), a highly successful summer music program in residence at Bryn Mawr College, to encourage and inspire musicians of all levels. Originally just for string players, the Festival now includes all symphonic instruments plus piano, and features innovative specialty programs to help students prepare for auditions, improve practice, and address performance issues. PIMF includes students of all ages and all levels who attend from around the world to study privately with musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, PIMF was one of the first music programs to successfully adapt to virtual access to master classes, lessons, and full summer camp for students.
Ms. Fisher is an active pedagogue whose students have performed as soloist with major orchestras, have attended distinguished music conservatories, are members of professional orchestras, and have won many awards and competitions. Her energetic, communicative teaching style has led to invitations to present master classes, lessons, and seminars around the world.
John Koen has been a member of The Philadelphia Orchestra since 1990. He appears regularly on the Orchestra’s Chamber Music series and has performed during Wolfgang Sawallisch’s 1993 Opening Week Festival and the subsequent National Public Radio broadcast of Schumann’s Piano Quintet with Maestro Sawallisch as pianist. Mr. Koen has been a frequent guest on the Philadelphia Chamber Ensemble series since 1993 and is also a member of the Mondrian Ensemble and the Network for New Music. He performed with the ensemble 1807 & Friends Chamber Music Society from 1990 to 1993.
Mr. Koen has appeared as a soloist with the New Symphony Orchestra of Sofia, Bulgaria, under
PIMF Vanoli–Cremona Faculty
the direction of Rossen Milanov. Mr. Koen also appears regularly as a soloist with the Lansdowne (PA) Symphony, of which he has been principal cello since 1992. He was a nominee for the 1998 Gay/Lesbian American Music Awards (GLAMA) for his performance of Winter Toccata for solo cello by Robert Maggio, which Mr. Koen commissioned, and is featured on a recording of works by Mr. Maggio entitled Seven Mad Gods (Composers’ Recordings, Inc.).
Mr. Koen studied at the Curtis Institute of Music with David Soyer and Peter Wiley, the original and last cellist (respectively) of the Guarneri Quartet, from 1985 to 1990, graduating with a Bachelor of Music Performance degree; he also studied at the New School of Music with Orlando Cole (1984-85). In 1988 Mr. Koen performed in the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival Orchestra as solo cellist on European tours with Christoph Eschenbach, Leonard Bernstein, and Sergiu Celibidache, including a television broadcast throughout Eastern Europe from Gorky Park in Moscow with Maestro Bernstein, and as a member of the Salzau Quartet in a performance for President Richard von Weizsäcker of Germany. Mr. Koen taught at the College of New Jersey (Trenton) from 1996 to 2001.
In 2004 Mr. Koen received The Philadelphia Orchestra’s C. Hartman Kuhn Award, given to “a musician who has shown both musical ability and enterprise of such character as to enhance the musical standards and reputation of The Philadelphia Orchestra.”
GRAMMY Award winning pianist Mark Livshits is one of the most highly sought after soloists and chamber musicians in Philadelphia. He appears frequently in concert with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as with the orchestra as a substitute in the keyboard section.
In addition to performances at the Salzburg Festival, solo recitals at the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, and Bilbao Philharmonic Society, Dr. Livshits has also worked closely with musicians such as Yannick Nezet Seguin, Stephane Denève, Michael Tilson Thomas, Nikolaj Znaider, Nathalie Stutzman, Leonidas Kovakos, Gil Shaham, Lynn Harrell, Midori, Christoph Eschenbach, Alisa Weilerstein, Measha Brueggergosman, Daniel Lozakovich, Dave Brubeck and Deutsche Grammophon recording artist, YeEun Choi under the auspices of IMG Artists and the Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation.
In 2015, he was called to replace Yannick Nezet-Seguin in a chamber music performance of Brahms Third Quartet for Piano and Strings with members from the Philadelphia Orchestra and has been invited to perform in chamber programs with members of the orchestra since then. He is often called to play orchestral piano in the orchestra as well. Dr. Livshits has received invitations to perform for dignitaries such as Secretary of State Colin Powell and President Joe Biden.
Dr. Livshits currently serves on faculty as the head of collaborative piano at the University of Delaware and as staff pianist at the Curtis Institute of Music. He also serves on the faculty at the Philadelphia International Music Festival.
Mark Livshits is a Steinway Artist.
JULY 29
PIMF Vanoli-Cremona July 28 – August 7, 2025 Cremona, Italy
Travel Itinerary
Student Tour
JULY 30
FLIGHT #: AA 298
ARRIVAL: JULY 29, 2025
JULY 31 –AUGUST 4
AUGUST 5
HOTEL: Hotel Continental Cremona
DEPARTURE: August 7, 2025
AUGUST 6
AFTERNOON: Explore the beautiful city of Milan Fashion capital of the world!
EVENING: Check-in to the Hotel Continental Cremona
MORNING: Breakfast
AFTERNOON: Explore the beautiful city of Verona The setting of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet
EVENING: Dinner
MORNING: Breakfast
AFTERNOON: Vanoli Cremona Music Festival with members of The Philadelphia Orchestra
EVENING: Dinner and Evening Performance
MORNING: Breakfast
AFTERNOON: Explore the beauty of Lake Garda home to the ancient Castello Scagliero di Sirmione fortress
EVENING: Dinner
MORNING: Breakfast
AFTERNOON: Explore the magical city of Venice City of the Canals
EVENING: Farewell dinner
JULY 29
PIMF Vanoli-Cremona
July 28 – August 7, 2025
Travel Itinerary
Friends & Family Tour
JULY 30
FLIGHT #: AA 298
ARRIVAL: JULY 29, 2025
JULY 31 –
AUGUST 1
AUGUST 2 –
AUGUST 4
AFTERNOON:
AUGUST 5
Cremona, Italy
HOTEL: Hotel Continental Cremona
DEPARTURE: August 7, 2025
Together with students enrolled in the PIMF-Vanoli Cremona Music Festival, explore the beautiful city of Milan Fashion capital of the world!
EVENING: Check-in to the Hotel Continental Cremona
MORNING: Breakfast
AFTERNOON:
Together with students enrolled in the PIMF-Vanoli Cremona Music Festival, discover the exquisite beauty of of Verona The setting of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet
EVENING: Dinner
Overnight stay at the Luxurious L’Albereta Spa and Winery in Erbusco, Italy
Daily visits to the captivating cities of: Parma, Bologna, and Cremona
MORNING: Breakfast
AFTERNOON:
Together with students enrolled in the PIMF- Vanoli Cremona Music Festival, explore the splendor of Lake Garda home to the ancient Castello Scagliero di Sirmione fortress
EVENING: Dinner
MORNING: Breakfast
AUGUST 6
AFTERNOON:
Together with students enrolled in the PIMF- Vanoli Cremona Music Festival, experience the magic of Venice City of the Canals
EVENING: Farewell dinner
MILAN
Tour Milan, Italy – The intellectual stimuli and sensory delights will relieve all your jet lag at once! Get fashion tips just by eyeballing the locals and get inspired by your first views of Bella Italia from the stylish streets of this design capital. The luxurious Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is one of the world's oldest shopping malls. Your walking tour includes legendary palazzos,piazzas,emoltodepiù(andmuchmore)!At the end of the day you’ll head to Cremona, the historic home base for the festival.
Day Trip to Milan – July 29, 2025
~11:20 AM Arrival at MalpensaAirport (estimated). Milanese schiscetta box lunch on the bus to Milan.
1:45 PM Meeting point at Piazzetta Enrico Cuccia. A branded bike will mark the meeting point.
2:00* PM Start of the walking tour, ending at La Scala Theatre. The tour itinerary includes Piazza della Scala, Via Giuseppe Verdi, Grand Hotel et de Milan, Piazza Belgioioso, and Piazza San Fedele.
3:30 – 4:00 PM End of the tour.
4:00 PM Assemble at Cathedral (Duomo) for Duomo visit. Remember to dress respectfully, covering your shoulders and legs below the knee, as guards strictly enforce the Duomo's dress code.
4:15 PM First access to the Cathedral (Duomo): visit to the Cathedral, the terraces, and the Duomo Museum (Timed tickets: first group enters 4:15 PM, second enters 4:30 PM; must enter per ticket time). The ticket allows as much as 45 minutes on the terraces for sweeping views of the city, followed by access to the cathedral and museum. After the terrace visit, self-tour of the glorious cathedral.
~5:00 PM – 6:45 PM Depending on how long you spend at the cathedral, you may choose to visit some sites nearby, including but not limited to Piazza Reale mansion, (which is free to enter until 7 PM), Piazza Mercanti, or the glamourous Galleria (stores start to close around 6:30 PM.)
6:45 PM Departure from Milan to Cremona.
8:15 PM Group dinner at Cremona Hotel Continental.
* May begin as late as 2:30 PM
VERONA
Visiting Verona – which is your favorite era? Its nickname is “the little Rome.” Its arena is as spectacular as Rome’s Colosseum and possibly betterpreserved, with most of its original seating and exterior arches from 30 A.D. However, your inner archeologist can absorb all of the medieval architecture, and the romance of the Renaissance era as well. And SUCH romance Shakespeare chose it for “Romeo and Juliet” for good reason. The Centro Storico historic center drips with atmosphere.
Day Trip to Verona –
July 30, 2025
(Approx.90-minutedrive)
7:00 – 8:15 AM Breakfast at Cremona Hotel Continental
8:30 AM Leave Cremona.
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM Guided tour of the historic center + Arena entrance led by a licensed tour guide, covering the city’s most iconic landmarks: Piazza Bra, Via Mazzini, Piazza Erbe, Piazza dei Signori, courtyards, and views of Roman and medieval Verona. An interior visit of the Verona Arena amphitheater, with a historical explanation.
12:30 – 2:00 PM Free time for lunch in the city center, just a short walk from the main points of interest. Pro Tip: Juliet’s Balcony is VERY popular, so allow time! Just a few blocks away is the very photogenic Porta Borsari, an arched limestone gate that dates to the 1st century (FIRST!) and served as the main entrance to the city.
2:00 – 4:00 PM Exclusive archaeological experience. Meeting with an archaeologist for a guided activity inside the underground archaeological area of Corte Sgarzerie, exceptionally opened for the group. The site preserves the remains of the Roman Capitolium, the main temple of ancient Verona, now visible beneath the current street level.
Tour by group, 2–3 PM and 3–4 PM; each group will have an additional hour of free time either before or after their tour
4:00 – 6:45 PM Free time in Verona. Pro Tip: Stroll across the river to Giardino Giusti, the splendid gardens around the palazzo of a 15th-century wool merchant. It’s a €13 ticket but a lush way to end the day.
6:45 PM Leave Verona.
~8:15 PM Estimated arrival in Cremona.
8:30 PM Group dinner at Cremona Hotel Continental.
L’ALBERETA SPA AND WINERY
Family & Friends go ham on the dolce vita (or is that go prosciutto?) at L’Albereta Spa and Winery. Perched atop an idyllic mountain vineyard, its natural outdoor beauty lets you soak in the warm sun and vista views, the smorgasbord of Italian food and wine treats, with a giant indoor pool, sauna, steam room and spa. The pampering; the luxury; the glamour. Try to keep the details to yourselves afterwards because mere mortals may not be able to handle it.
Vanoli-Cremona July 28 – August 7, 2025
Overnight Trip to L’Albereta Spa and Winery: July 31 – August 1, 2025 (Approx.1-hourdrive)
JULY31
7:00 – 9:15 AM Breakfast at Cremona Hotel Continental.
9:30 AM Leave Cremona.
10:00 AM Arrive at L’Albereta; store overnight bags and review resort offerings.
11:00 AM Winery Tour at L’Albereta Winery.
12:30 PM Lunch and free time at resort.
3:00 PM Check-in for rooms at L’Albereta
Dinner at L’Albereta is “on your own” as are spa treatments. Breakfast is included in your visit and at your own schedule; lunch Friday is “on your own” at the resort. Enjoy the pool throughout your visit and even after checkout Friday (luggage will be stored.) You may explore the area around the resort independently by cab.
AUGUST1
12:00 PM Checkout from rooms at L’Albereta.
12:30 PM – 5:00 PM Lunch and free time at resort.
5:00 PM Leave L’Albereta.
~6:00 PM Estimated arrival in Cremona.
8:00 PM Group dinner at Cremona Hotel Continental.
The ravishingly frescoed Parma Cathedral and pink marble Baptistery are luscious examples of Romanesque design and Renaissance decor, but Parma sits in the middle of Italy’s agricultural heartland so the focus on food continues. The home of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (you could build a Baptistery from the giant wheels of it!), the curing process for some types of its famous Parma ham hasn’t changed since the 13th-century. This foodie heaven earned the prestigious title of UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
PARMA
Day
Trip
to
Parma
– August 2, 2025 (Approx.1hourdrive)
7:00 – 8:45 AM Breakfast at Cremona Hotel Continental.
9:00 AM Leave Cremona.
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Guided Tour of Prosciuttificio “Grandi Salumifici Italiani” in Langhirano. This tour illuminates the traditions of the worldfamous cured ham, Prosciutto di Parma, which claims to “conquer all palates.”
12:00 – 2:30 PM Free time for Lunch in Parma’s city center. Pro Tip: Frescoed from top to bottom, the Cathedral is a stunning example of Renaissance art and Romanesque architecture (the façade dates to 1178)―free to explore and breathtaking. The Baptistery requires a fee but is also an impressive visit to a very unusual building; the ticket covers entry to the Diocesan Museum of art and artifacts as well. Piazza Garibaldi was designed in medieval times to be a site of political power, and is now home to various shops and bars, and a giant sundial on its 17th-century Palazzo del Governatore. Nearby is the domed church of Santa Maria Della Steccata, and that dome is only one of the gorgeous elements inside this 16th-century wonder, open until 6:30 and free to see.
2:30 – 4:00 PM Tour of Dairy “San Pier Damiani” in Prospero. In operation since 1846, the tour promises to reveal “all the secrets of the exceptional goodness of the King of Cheeses”–Parmigiano-Reggiano.
4:00 – 6:30 PM Free time in Parma. Pro Tip: You have time to see the Teatro Farnese inside the Palazzo Pilotta museum complex. Buy your ticket and go straight to it. For €18 you can see plenty of other fabulous art and artifacts, but this wooden Renaissance wonder may be the most astonishing theatre you’ll ever see. Open until 7 PM so you have time!
6:30 PM Leave Parma.
~7:30 PM Estimated arrival in Cremona.
8:00 PM Group dinner at Cremona Hotel Continental.
BOLOGNA
Go hungry to Bologna, fondly nicknamed La Grassa, or “the fat one,” for its devotion to food. Its oldest osteria has been slinging pasta since 1379. Bologna is home to gorgeous Gothic architecture (and some oddities, including two towers that teeter drunkenly over the city, built by crazed aristocrats during the Middle Ages) and Europe’s oldest institute of higher education, the University of Bologna, founded in 1088.
Day Trip to Bologna
- August 3, 2025 (Approx.2-hourdrive)
7:00 – 8:45 AM Breakfast at Cremona Hotel Continental.
9:00 AM Leave Cremona.
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Guided Walking Tour of Bologna’s main landmarks, including the Two Towers, the ancient market area, the socalled Quadrilatero, the statue of Neptune, the UNESCO Porticoes and the Basilica of San Petronio (appropriate attire for places of worship required to enter) and more.
1:00 – 2:30 PM Free time for Lunch in Bologna’s city center. Walk to train
2:30 – 4:45 PM Panoramic train ride up (and back down!) the mountain to the Basilica San Luca for sweeping views of the region. A monumental, roofed arcade consisting of 666 arches also leads to the summit, to stunning vistas and beautiful architecture.
4:45 – 6:00 PM Free time in Bologna’s city center.
6:00 PM Leave Bologna
~8:00 PM Estimated arrival in Cremona.
8:15 PM Group dinner at Cremona Hotel Continental.
CREMONA
Festival participants will be working hard at polishing their skills and improving their technique and becoming true Cremonese for most of the week. In between lessons, practice, rehearsals and performances, they’ll explore this compact capital of violins with an insider tour of a lutherie, getting up close to unpriceable instruments, researching every gelato flavor on offer, and vibing with music history with every step.
Vanoli-Cremona
28 – August 7, 2025
Grand Finale Day in Cremona – August 4, 2025
7:00 – 10:00 AM Breakfast at Cremona Hotel Continental.
*Morning and lunch “on your own” in Cremona; students prepare for Grand Finale Concert.
12:30 PM Grand Finale Concert at Cremona’s Chamber of Commerce. Repertoire will dictate the length of the concert, which will include intermissions
8:15 PM Group dinner at Cremona Hotel Continental.
July 28 – August 7, 2025 Cremona, Italy
LAKE GARDA
After the Festival Grand Finale Concerts in Cremona, the whole gang gets back together for a day trip to glorious Lake Garda. A tour of Il Vittoriale degli italiani will require all the photo storage space you can spare. The spectacular estate was built by and for one of Italy’s most famous literary personalities and “mamma mia” the man Knew How To Live. You’ll also have plenty of time to chill like the locals do at one of Europe’s most popular vacation spots.
Day Trip to Lake Garda
– August 5, 2025 (Approx.90-minutedrive)
7:00 – 8:45 AM Breakfast at Cremona Hotel Continental.
9:00 AM Leave Cremona.
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Tour of Vittoriale degli Italiani estate, luxurious home of the famous poet Gabriele d’Annunzio: the manor house, a huge garden with waterways and waterfalls, an outdoor theater, streets, squares, museums, and a mausoleum.
12:45 – 6:45 PM Lunch and free time in Desenzano “the capital of Lake Garda” for the beach, for shopping in town, or both! Explore winding historic lanes, parks, the waterfront with its Old Port built by the Venetians, and shopping streets. Head up narrow Via Castello to the town’s small fortress, the 11thcentury Castello, with a tower and walkways on the wall for panoramic views of the lake or visit the Roman villa for more ancient history.
6:00 PM Leave Desenzano.
~8:00 PM Estimated arrival in Cremona.
8:15 PM Group dinner at Cremona Hotel Continental.
VENICE
The last day is devoted to the miracle that is Venice, a magical, road-free city built on over 100 islands where every view is iconic. St. Mark’s Square! The Rialto! Gondoliers! Venetian is its own romance language, with multiple words to describe different ways light reflects off water. Any cliché about this astonishing cityscape is accurate, and the sights, sounds, and sensations is sure to stimulate all your senses. We simply could not let you leave Italy without experiencing it.
Day Trip to Venice –
August 6, 2025 (Approx.2:15drivetoTronchetto)
7:00 – 8:45 AM Breakfast at Cremona Hotel Continental.
9:00 AM Leave Cremona.
11:00 AM Arrival at Tronchetto. After meeting the guide, the tour begins with a brief introduction to the city of Venice and its main cultural and musical landmarks during the boat ride on the Adriatic from Tronchetto to Cornoldi.
The first stop is the Church of La Pietà, also known as Santa Maria della Visitazione. This 18th-century building is famous for its connection to Antonio Vivaldi, who taught and composed many of his works here. The elegant classical façade and excellent acoustics make it a mustsee for lovers of Baroque music.
Walk to St. Mark’s Square. An external explanation of: St. Mark’s Basilica, known for its golden mosaics and Byzantine heritage. The Doge’s Palace, the political heart of the Venetian Republic, renowned for its magnificence and history.
Visit to La Fenice Theatre, one of the most important opera houses in the world. Visitors will explore the architecture and hear about its history from its origins to the fires that led to its reconstruction.
Walk to the Museum of Music, located inside the Church of San Maurizio. It houses a collection of historic musical instruments; some linked to Venice’s musical tradition. Includes discussion on the history of classical music and Venice’s role as a European cultural hub.
The tour ends at Campo Santo Stefano, one of Venice’s most scenic squares. Here stands the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory, a prestigious institution for musical training, founded in 1876 and located in the historic Palazzo Pisani. It houses concert halls, a music library, and a unique atmosphere that reflects Venice’s musical heritage.
3:00 PM End of guided tour.
3:00 – 6:00 PM Free time in Venice.
6:00 PM Boat transfer: Cornoldi to Tronchetto; departure to Cremona
~9:00 PM Estimated arrival in Cremona.
9:15 PM Group dinner at Cremona Hotel Continental.
PIMF "Music in the Mansion"
WinterSoloPerformanceIntensive
December29,2025-January3,2026
MIAMI, FL (DECEMBER 29, 2025–JANUARY 3, 2026) ― One of PIMF’s most popular programs EVER is the winter break intensive for strings at Miami’s beautiful Casa Tranquilla estate. Designed for advanced string players 13-19 years of age preparing for upcoming solo performances and competitions, this unique mini-camp gathers twenty-five talented young musicians to rev up their skills and start the new year on a high note.
Days are packed with a laser focus on skill building and technique refinement, while the evenings are opportunities to perform and be challenged in Master Classes. This program includes: four private lessons, daily 30-minute workout sessions with assigned faculty accompanists, daily hourlong solo performance classes, five hours of required daily private practice, and a week-ending Grand Finale Recital.
The mansion offers indoor and outdoor spaces for private lessons and studio classes with faculty that include Kimberly Fisher (Principal Second Violin, The Philadelphia Orchestra), Richard Amoroso (violin, The Philadelphia Orchestra), and John Koen (cello, The Philadelphia Orchestra), as well as daily workouts and coaching sessions with piano accompanists.
And throughout, a spectacular gourmet menu, complete with daily High Tea prepared by a gourmet chef, in a world of elegance and pampering to elevate young musicians’ entire educational experience. In an entirely new way to study their craft, Music in Mansion surrounds them with beauty and excellence so the only thing they need to focus on is performance.
String players are invited to start 2026 with fresh insights and inspiration, new connections, and glowing memories. Music in the Mansion fills to capacity each season, so early auditions are advised.
