Corelli International Music Fest (CIMF) – A Historic Debut in Europe!
Corelli International Music Fest (CIMF) is a landmark Masterclass and Recital fest making its debut in Rome, Italy, from December 27th 2025 to January 3rd 2026. A visionary initiative by the Indo-European Youth Orchestra (IEYO), India, in collaboration with Corelli Istituto, Italy. CIMF is designed to elevate the artistry of Western Classical music students from India.
This landmark Masterclass and Recital Festival is a visionary initiative led by Maestro Michael Rupam Makhal, a distinguished Indian conductor and composer whose pioneering efforts continue to elevate Indian talent on the global stage. At the center of the collaboration is Maestro Antonello Bucca, Director of Istituto Musicale Corelli. His support and artistic guidance have been instrumental in shaping CIMF’s masterclass and performance framework. Under his direction, Corelli’s distinguished faculty – the maestros would mentor the participants through masterclasses that emphasize refined technique, thoughtful interpretation, and professional stage craft. This collaboration is a magnificently built bridge between India and Italy, grounded in mutual respect and shared standards of excellence.
CIMF is designed to empower Western Classical music students from India, offering them a rare opportunity to attend masterclasses, participate in workshops, and perform in Rome alongside the community of Istituto Musicale Corelli. Ten young musicians, selected through auditions from Mumbai, Gurugram, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata and Manchester – will attend masterclasses on violin, piano, classical guitar, and cello. Kudos to their amazing teachers and music schools – namely, Troika Music School from Mumbai, Musikroots – the Music Academy from Bengaluru, and the Art of Violin from Hyderabad. The musical level of the participants are from intermediate level to advanced diploma levels. Each day of work will be anchored by rigorous guidance from Corelli’s maestros, complemented by artistic direction from IEYO and Maestro Michael Rupam Makhal.
The festival culminates with two concerts: individual solo recitals on January 2nd at Istituto Musicale Corelli, and a gala on January 3rd at 8:30 p.m. in the Parish Church of San Romano Martire, Rome. The grand concert will bring together the Indo-European Youth Orchestra and the Istituto Musicale Corelli Students Orchestra – a shared stage that reflects the spirit of CIMF: collaboration, friendship, and intercultural musical celebration. The orchestra will perform a fascinating repertoire of Italian masterpieces composed by Nino Rota, Verdi, and Ennio Morricone, a famous work of Jo Yeong-wook, and also feature Indian Raga based orchestral pieces – Sangram and 1947 Summer of India, composed by Maestro Michael Rupam Makhal. The repertoire and the concert is conceptualized by the Director of Music at Corelli Istituto, Maestro Massimo Munari.
Indo-European Youth Orchestra (IEYO), an initiative of the Michael Makhal Symphony Orchestra (MMSO) – is celebrated for its Grand Budapest Annual Concert Series in Hungary since 2019, and its distinctive confluence of Western and Indian classical traditions. Since 2017, MMSO’s collaborations with Italy, including the Luci Della Ribalta International Music Fest in Narni, have steadily introduced Indian musicians to European audiences and institutions. CIMF extends that legacy with Istituto Musicale Corelli as a co-architect of the experience, ensuring that pedagogy and performance carry equal weight. CIMF has been thoughtfully designed to meet the unique aspirations of Indian students pursuing Western Classical music. For the very first time, a program of this nature is being introduced in Europe from India – truly a landmark initiative that offers young learners from India the rare opportunity to refine their craft in close collaboration with distinguished European masters and peers.
This fest and the program is created and conceptualized by Maestro Michael Rupam Makhal in close collaboration with Maestro Alessandro Viale – Italian pianist, composer, conductor, and educator, whose longstanding friendship with Maestro Makhal and artistic engagements in India, including Autumn International Music Fest Hyderabad (2018), add depth and continuity to the partnership. Their shared approach balances tradition with innovation, privileging clarity of musical thought and integrity of performance.
CIMF is a great moment for India in culture and music, and a meaningful achievement shared with Istituto Musicale Corelli and Maestro Antonello Bucca. It is a festival conceived in India, realized in Rome, and built together – where young Indian artists meet Italian mentorship on equal footing to shape the sound of tomorrow.
Participants Gallery
