NUME Academy was founded in 2018 from the shared dream of two musicians, Natalie Dentini and Vlad Stanculeasa, together with co-founders Ettore Causa and Antonio Lysy, whose vision continues to inspire the Academy even after his passing in 2024.
The project was conceived to carry forward the artistic and cultural legacy of George Enescu, absorbed by Yehudi Menuhin and passed on to the founding professors of NUME Academy through Alberto Lysy, their teacher and mentor.
At the heart of NUME lies a profound conviction: classical music is not only an art form, but a universal language capable of educating, uniting, and transforming.
The Academy's mission is to give voice to new generations of young talents by offering free high-level training programmes — masterclasses, workshops, and encounters with renowned artists — to shape a future where musical excellence is accessible to all who show talent and dedication.
Every year, in the timeless setting of Cortona, 13 young musicians experience a unique educational journey: a week of intensive study and human and artistic exchange alongside masters from the world's most prestigious academies.
Among the artists who have shared both the stage and the classroom with students are Gidon Kremer, Steven Isserlis, Augustin Hadelich, Tabea Zimmermann, Mihaela Martin, Frans Helmerson, and many others.
Today, NUME Academy is recognised as one of the most sought-after programs in the world, with more than 350 applications each year, a place where passion meets excellence, and where music becomes a life-changing experience.
Music heals, inspires beauty, empathy, and perseverance.
This conviction lies at the heart of NUME Academy & Festival, an artistic and educational project that aims to cultivate in young people the ability to listen, to feel, and to transform the musical experience into a profound form of personal and collective growth.
The 2026 edition of the Festival confirms and strengthens its commitment to music education as a means of inclusion, social rehabilitation, and innovative learning. In a context where culture is often perceived as distant or elitist, NUME acts as a bridge between worlds, bringing children, students, families, and vulnerable audiences closer to the richness of classical music.
Participants not only explore the history, repertoire, and sensory experience of music, but also learn the fundamental values that underpin this art—discipline, artistic sensitivity, collaboration, and respect for one another’s journey.
Among the pedagogical goals of NUME is the importance of educating for conscious listening, and above all, re-educating to patience and openness in approaching an art form that is not primarily visual, but one that unfolds and reveals itself over time.
It means rediscovering a new attitude: slowing down, allowing music to emerge and resonate fully, and learning to listen with generosity of time and spirit—an act that stands in contrast to today’s fast and instantaneous forms of entertainment.
Special attention is given to children, people with disabilities, and young people from educational communities or disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring that music becomes a vehicle for freedom of expression, discovery, joy, and connection.
As a universal language, music nurtures creativity, strengthens self-esteem, and teaches the acceptance of diversity.
NUME 2026 promotes an extensive educational and outreach programme, featuring the following activities.
A unique opportunity to observe the artistic process up close, understand the work behind the scenes, and learn how to listen more deeply—alongside fellow students and teachers. A private, exclusive listening session with the Festival’s guest artists.
Public lessons led by the Academy’s faculty, where technique and interpretation become moments of shared learning for listeners as well as for students.
A concrete initiative to encourage families and the younger generation to discover classical music and break down barriers of access.
A unique format combining musical performance and cultural insight, offering the audience tools to understand the historical and artistic context of the craft. The traditional method of violin making, passed down from the 16th century masters, remains unchanged today and is recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A fascinating journey through the craft—from selecting the wood to varnishing, exploring the tools and techniques that transform a piece of wood into a musical instrument. At the end of the session, participants will have the chance to see and touch the different parts of a violin and experience the sounds and scents of a luthier’s workshop.
Latvian violinist Roberts Balanas is renowned for his innovative approach to classical repertoire. Trained at the Royal Academy of Music in London, he combines flawless technique and charisma with a curiosity that bridges classical and pop worlds.
His performances are marked by vibrant energy, refined sound, and a daring reinterpretation of works by artists such as Michael Jackson and Jimi Hendrix, turning them into breathtaking virtuosic showcases.
Balanas represents a new generation of classical musicians who merge tradition and modernity, bringing the violin into new and unexpected territories with elegance and originality.
