The 19th International Academy of Sacred Music takes place from May 22 to 30 2010. The Academy was founded in 1992 and has remained under the direction of its founder, the British specialist Michael Procter, ever since.

Since 2005 the Academy is based in the Istituto Artigianelli, a beautifully converted monastery on the Fondamente Zattere. Here the Academy members are housed, in excellent modern bedrooms, each with its bathroom and telephone. Here, too, the six hours of daily intensive rehearsal are held. The Istituto also encloses the 15th century church of Santa Maria della Visitazione, where our daily rehearsals take place. Evening meals are taken communally at the nearby Ristorante San Trovaso, directly adjacent to the monastery. Prices for accommodation etc. are given below.

The Academy is designed as a participatory course of the highest possible level, for choirmasters, church musicians and experienced choir singers. Its repertoire is always drawn specifically from the Venetian, and mainly from the Marcan (San Marco) sacred music of the 16th century. Since 1994 the Venice Academy has had the unique privilege of singing the Solemn High Mass at St Mark's.

This year the Academy is dedicated in particular to the music of Baldassare Donato (c. 1529 – 1603) who preceded Croce as maestro di cappella. In previous years we have sung several of his motets, but he was never until now ‘top of the bill.’ Music by Donato and others will be performed in a concert on the Thursday evening, and in the Solemn Mass at San Marco on the final Sunday morning, Trinity Sunday.