Singing in Sicily, 2026
WHEN: 28 Sept - 11 October, 2026
WHERE: Sicily, Italy
COST: From AUD $7450 Early Bird plus €300 Book Now
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Details
Sing and Explore the Soul of Sicily
Join us for a 14-day singing and cultural journey through the captivating island of Sicily. You’ll take part in inspiring vocal workshops and enjoy spontaneous pop-up performances in stunning historic settings.
Between singing sessions, we’ll wander through ancient sites and colourful markets, discovering Sicily’s rich history and vibrant local life. Culinary highlights include arancini, pasta alla Norma, and freshly made cannoli — all paired with superb local wines.
With a thoughtful balance of music, relaxation, travel, and exploration, this immersive experience invites you to soak up the rhythm and warmth of Sicily — from the lively streets of Palermo to the baroque beauty of Catania.
Arrival: Palermo Airport PMOPalermo Airport also known as Falcone-Borsellino, the airport is located 35 km from Palermo, the capital city of the Italian island of Sicily.
Departure: Catania–Fontanarossa Airport also known as Vincenzo Bellini Airport, is an international airport 2.3 NM southwest of Catania, the second largest city on the Italian island of Sicily. (It is named after the opera composer Vincenzo Bellini, who was born in Catania.)
Here’s what’s included in your Sicilian singing adventure…
Singing
- Singing with Stuart Davis throughout the full trip
- Also, singing sessions with Edoardo Matterassi and friends during the last 5 days
Cutural tours
- Visiting the spectacular Teatro di Andromeda
- And Valley of Temples, Agrigentro
- Exploring the ancient town of Enna situated in the centre and highest point of Sicily
- Visiting the beautiful baroque town of Noto
- Visiting the island of Ortigia / Syracusa
- We will attend an Opera in Catania (if available on the date)
A great mix of free time, exploring and sessions.
Day-by-day itinerary
Exact order of visits and excursions may vary slightly depending on local conditions and performance opportunities.
Day 1 – Arrive in Palermo (D)
Meet your tour leaders and fellow singers, check into Hotel Politeama (or similar) and enjoy our first relaxed singing session. Welcome dinner together in the heart of Palermo.
Day 2 – Singing & exploring Palermo (B, D)
Breakfast at the hotel followed by a morning singing session with Stuart. Explore Palermo’s vibrant markets, historic squares and cultural gems. Afternoon pop-up singing and group dinner.
Day 3 – Palermo: performance & discovery (B)
Breakfast then another inspiring morning vocal workshop. Further exploration of the city with opportunities for pop-up performances in beautiful spaces.
Day 4 – Teatro Andromeda & coastal Sciacca (B, D)
Depart Palermo after breakfast and travel inland to visit the extraordinary open-air Teatro Andromeda — singing in a truly unforgettable setting. Continue to the southern coast and settle into Hotel Il Marchese. Afternoon singing and group dinner.
Day 5 – Valley of the Temples & hilltop Enna (B)
Travel to Agrigento for a morning exploring the Valley of the Temples, including a pop-up sing among ancient history. After lunch, journey into the dramatic heart of Sicily to Enna — a medieval hill town with sweeping views and an impressive cathedral. Overnight at Hotel Federico II.
Day 6 – Roman mosaics & arrival in the lemon groves (B, D)
Visit the stunning Villa Romana del Casale to marvel at its world-famous mosaics and enjoy a singing moment in this unique UNESCO site. Continue to the Noto countryside and settle into our peaceful agriturismo accommodation — Villa Felicia and Terre dei Limoni — nestled among fragrant lemon groves.
Day 7 – Relaxation & singing in paradise (B, L, D)
Start the day with an optional ocean swim or a dip in one of the pools. A relaxed day with singing and settling into the rhythm of the countryside. In the evening we warmly welcome Edoardo Materassi and Sabrina De Luca.
Day 8 – Noto baroque beauty & workshops (B, L)
Morning music workshops with Stuart and Edoardo. Lunch and siesta at the agriturismo. Late-afternoon excursion into Noto for golden-hour sightseeing and dinner options.
Day 9 – Workshops & excursion (B, L)
Breakfast, swim, and morning rehearsals followed by a relaxed lunch and siesta. Late-day excursion (location depends on performance schedule or cultural opportunity).
Day 10 – Music, sunshine & Sicilian rhythm (B, L)
Another joyful day blending relaxation, great food and musical growth — singing sessions with Stuart and Edoardo, plus an afternoon outing.
Day 11 – Singing & choir exchange (B, L)
Continue rehearsals with time to rest and swim. In the late afternoon we take part in a choir exchange — a joyful cultural connection through music.
Day 12 – Siracusa, Ortigia & onward to Catania (B)
Travel north with a stop in Siracusa and the island of Ortigia — historic charm and coastal beauty. Arrive in Catania for free time to explore before an optional opera evening (subject to schedules). Stay at Palace Catania | UNA Esperienze (or similar).
Day 13 – Catania & farewell concert (B, D)
Breakfast followed by a morning singing session and visit to Teatro Massimo Bellini. Evening concert and a beautiful final dinner together.
Day 14 – Depart Catania (B)
After breakfast, transfers to Catania Airport for onward travel. Arrivederci e grazie — until we sing again!
Directors/Maestri
Stuart Davis
Stuart Davis has been directing choirs in Sydney, Australia for 25 years. He also performs in a couple of small groups (The Lounge Quintet). Currently he directs 3 choirs and co-ordinates 3 other choirs in and around Sydney. Stuart co-directed our 2018, Singing in Italy event and was our primary director of Singing and Sailing in Croatia, 2017, 2019 and 2024 and Singing in Sardinia and Corsica in 2023 and 2025.
Stuart says, ‘I’m indebted to Tony Backhouse and his very influential choir ‘The Cafe of the Gate of Salvation’. It was here that I learned how a choir can be a village in itself - a real community, almost a family’.
'Every choir is unique, and everyone gets something special out of it, but the common things are sheer joy, relaxation and community. It’s very common to hear from members that choir night is the highlight of their week.In fact, many people have trouble sleeping after choir they are so stimulated!' The choirs all perform regularly, always raising money for something or other. I believe in what I call ‘Double Happiness’ - do what you love but make sure it has some other positive effect somewhere else. Between the choirs, over the years, we have raised over $50,000 for various causes.
Stuart is a lucky guy - ‘my job gives me immense joy, and I know that every week hundreds of other people are getting a similar dose of happiness. Plus I know, there are villages in Africa, New Guinea, India and Vanuatu who have classrooms, wells, toilets and books just because we put on a few concerts’.
Edoardo Materassi
BIO: Edoardo Materassi, guitarist, composer, choir director and teacher.
Edoardo has an impressive log of concerts both in Italy and abroad. His compositions have been performed in Italy, France, Germany, Holland and Australia.
He has collaborated with musicians and actors such as: Vars Music, Faye Nepon, Luca di Volo, Claudia Bombardella, Annamaria Castelli, Alessandro Lanzoni, Giorgio Guiot, Carlo Pavese, Monica Bauco, Ivano Bini, Zeta Archive, Maurizio Maggiani, Ernesto De Martino Institute, Orchestra AgimusArte, Sunrise Orchestra. He collaborates as a teacher with the Cantascuola di Torino association.
Edoardo teaches harmony, choral exercises, ensemble music and guitar at numerous schools in the province of Florence. He is artistic director of the School of Music of Calenzano and is a member of the artistic commission of the Cori della Toscana Association.
He is passionate about community singing and directs the choirs: Animae Voces, Mulieris Voces, Sesto in Canto, the choir of the "P. Calamandrei "and the choir of the" Cavalcanti "Inferior Middle Schools of Sesto Fiorentino. With the choirs Animae Voces and Mulieris Voces he has been awarded at various competitions. He also directs youth choirs "Na' Ara Vocal Ensemble" and "Menura Vocal Ensemble" and often works with the successful childrens' choir Piccolo coro Melograno from Florence. (piccolocoromelograno.it)
We have invited Edoardo to work with us as a choir director on multiple singing holiday events in Italy since 2017.
"I'd go anywhere in the world to sing with Edoardo again" Lorraine Melanson
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