Founded in the fall of 2015 in the medieval Tuscan village of Arcidosso, Italy, by Matt Pickart, Thomas Fortmann, and Helmut Lipsky, Clazz International Music Festival began as an opportunity to teach classically trained musicians, specifically string players, how to improvise through the pedagogical ideals of jazz and musical languages from other cultures. After initial success with a small but mighty group in 2016, Clazz expanded the following year to offer two sessions: Jazz and Classical, with expanded instrumentation and eventually voice. The name of Clazz itself of course comes from the merging (or intersection) of classical and jazz idioms. Summers 2017 and 2018 featured the two sessions. During this time the reputation and the numbers of the festival grew, and faculty and students began exploring further styles, becoming a musical melting pot of creativity.
In 2019, Clazz decided to integrate the classical and jazz sessions all at one festival, while extending the number of days to allow students to soak in as much as they could. After a very successful fourth summer, we were so excited to present our fifth anniversary in 2020, which ended up getting canceled, along with the 2021 festival due to complications of the Covid-19 pandemic.
We returned to Arcidosso in 2022 with the integrated festival, lasting two weeks, and have continued to grow and develop the festival each summer.
Boasting a distinguished and diverse concert series in the local 18th century theater, a 12th century church, and various open-air locations nestled throughout beautiful, picturesque Arcidosso, Clazz hosts faculty artists who are at the top of their field, including Grammy winners and nominees, major orchestral principals, top conservatory and university professors, soloists, and recording artists.
Over the last decade, hundreds of students have attended Clazz from four continents and sixteen different countries: United States, Canada, Ecuador, China, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, Bulgaria, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Spain. Clazz has attracted professionals from the likes of San Francisco Symphony, Les Violons du Roy, Strasbourg Philarmonique, Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic, and Cirque de Soleil as students with a desire to expand their skillsets. Clazz alumni have also hailed from renowned institutions such as the New England Conservatory, San Juan Conservatory, Conservatorio di Milano, Interlochen Arts Academy, Manhattan School of Music, McGill University, Shanghai Conservatory, University of Houston, University of Michigan, Berklee College of Music, Duquesne University, the Hart School, University of Tennessee, Indiana University, Conservatoire de Montréal, and the Cleveland Institute of Music.
In 2017, the festival established the Clazz Quartet, faculty string quartet in residence. In 2018 we began our special guest artist series which has included Quartet San Francisco (2018), Joshua Roman (2019), Jean Luc Ponty (2023) and Lukas Ligeti (2024).
From 2021 to 2024, Clazz held a five-day summer String Intensive through Webster University in St. Louis, which has featured guest artist Tracy Silverman. Clazz has also hosted online masterclasses with Noah Bendix-Balgley and Evan Price.
This summer, Clazz International Music Festival celebrates ten years. We hope you can join us for this monumental anniversary, July 20-August 3, 2026, in Arcidosso, Italy. As we look to the future of music and music education, our Clazz family continues to explore, create, and integrate musical connections, always learning and staying inspired, on our journey.
Stay tuned for what’s next!
