Our story
Luci Toscane (Tuscan Lights), incorporated in 2010, began as a 10-day chamber music and cultural arts festival in the heart of Italy’s renowned Tuscan region.
All festival attendees were invited guests of Luci Toscane’s classical and contemporary music performances, including a coveted invitation to perform for one of the 17 contrade (districts) in Siena, the Nobile Contrada del Bruco.
Luci Toscane events also occurred stateside, from cultural presentations at the Italian Consulate of Chicago, to various performances in New York, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
Over the past decade, the festival evolved from a student educational exchange into a collaboration of professional musicians pursuing artistic endeavors. Musicians hailed from the U.S. & Italy, as well as Norway, Puerto Rico, Spain, and Taiwan. Celebrating and highlighting Italian culture, language and art – especially that of the Tuscan region – remains an ongoing objective.
Luci Toscane now offers event coordination and assistance for destination weddings and corporate events, including but not limited to music performance, language studies and culinary experiences.
From 2005 to 2010, student musicians auditioned and enrolled in the festival to attend masterclasses and play in small ensembles. Students, including selectees from L’archet String Studio, trained with American and Italian colleagues and performed collectively in concerts and recitals.
Cultural festival-goers attended Italian Language and Culture courses taught by a certified Italian language instructor, toured various Tuscan cities, and participated in culinary events such as mini immersion courses in viniculture in Montalcino and Chianti.
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ma la musica e` sempre quella...