Resonating Body Festival Italy 2026 RECAP
by Katharina Martini
How do I find my own unique sound? How do I create more resonance in my sound? How do different sound colors emerge when I play music? How does my mindset influence my flute playing? What do my life decisions have to do with my sound when I play music? These were the questions at the heart of the 1st Resonating Body Festival in September in Verona and Venice. For 10 days, the beautiful setting of Italy accompanied us through daily warm-ups, individual lessons, workshops, challenges, reflections, and concerts. The focus was on individual development. Two masterclasses provided the framework for our participants. What was especially important to us: the working and learning environment was supportive and filled with good energy!
Every day of our festival began with a physical warm-up. Temperatures just around 44 degrees helped the participants to really warm up :). Each day, we combined different exercises to provide a variety of options for everyone, so that in the end, each person could incorporate into their own practice and routine whatever suited them best and addressed their needs most. The exercises were designed to warm up the muscles, mobilize the joints, improve the flexibility of the spine, and enhance hand mobility. During a focused cool-down session at two beautiful, calm locations right in the heart of the city, we also did stretching exercises designed to help create space in the joints. In the final reflection of the day, it became clear that every participant took home a favorite exercise of their own.
This was followed by individual lessons for the participants with Katharina and Christiane Martini. During these sessions, there was a great deal of experimentation with sound colours and how the body and focusing on specific body areas can support the variety of sound colours. Attention was also paid to individual posture, with small details such as bent or straight knees and a balanced standing position playing a major role in producing an open sound.
The question of resonance naturally arises when considering our obvious title, “Resonating Body.” What exactly is resonance, and how do you define it? For us and for this method, resonance is far more than “just” the open sound and thus the resonance of the instrument. Of course, this is obvious and plays a major role, as does the resonance within one’s own body, which can also resonate because it is an extension of our instrument. It can also be out of tune or in tune, thereby influencing sound, intonation, articulation, and our playing style. Equally important, however, is the question of resonance on a human level, which goes hand in hand with the questions: Am I in resonance with my colleagues, orchestra members, ensemble partners, etc., and above all, the question: Am I in resonance with myself, with my dreams, my goals, and my visions?
We are all individuals, and our dreams and goals are just as unique. Our Resonating Body team believes that everyone is allowed to follow their own path and that there isn’t just one “right” way. There’s often a lot of pressure in music schools to believe that only the path leading directly to an orchestra is worthwhile, but our musical world is so much more diverse, and we’re convinced that we can only truly “sound and resonate” musically when we’re also in tune with our dreams and goals and truly love them.
Resonating Body takes a truly holistic approach, focusing on the musician as a whole rather than just the sound, technique, and perfectly prepared performance. To help them assess for themselves where they currently stand, all participants received the “Resonance Wheel” before the class started, which they could fill out in various categories to indicate how resonant they felt at the beginning and at the end of the class. This was a special moment for everyone, as the growth and transformation of each participant was truly remarkable for all of us.
Another key workshop in both masterclasses focused on the topic of mindset. A particular focus here was on the power of our subconscious, the power of the words we use to talk to ourselves, and the power of “proof” with which we try, again and again, to demonstrate why something really won’t work. The main emphasis was on how we can use this powerful energy in a positive way.
Other special workshops included a workshop on improvisation with Ryah Lichtenstein and a workshop on “Social Media for the 21st-Century Flutist” with Gill Derer. Nicola Mazzanti led a particularly energetic and informative workshop on his Mazzanti Method, offering participants a joyful perspective in which practicing scales and long phrases is truly fun and actually feels, above all, like making music!
The daily evening reflection sessions always focused on the key takeaways from the day and discussing specific challenges, such as the question: “What is your vision?”
Everyone especially enjoyed the workshops on contemporary music. A few months ago, the Resonating Body Academy announced a composition prize on the theme of resonance. The two winning compositions were “Gradation: Heart Sound” by XiLi and “Sediments II” by Arevik Beglaryan. In two workshops, the composers themselves discussed the background and purpose of their compositions and guided us through the pieces. Everyone had a great time, for example, trying out beatboxing together. The two pieces were premiered by Katharina Martini at the Chiesa Evangelica in Luterana in Venice and at the Church of Santa Maria Antica in Verona. The concerts were well attended; each participant performed a solo piece, and together they played the chamber music pieces for flute ensemble that had been rehearsed during the chamber music sessions. This year, the participants came from 11 different countries and three different continents. This made the coming together of different cultures and musical backgrounds even more wonderful.
Shared free-time activities made the festival a unique event. Together we attended “La Traviata” at the Arena di Verona, cooked and ate delicious pasta together in the evenings, and enjoyed a welcome dinner and a closing dinner together.
The participants were emotionally very open, there was so much laughter, and at times there were tears or moments when they asked others for advice. The special kind of community that arises through Resonating Body, the various topics covered, and above all the holistic perspective and energy, is something truly special that we are incredibly grateful for.
Once again this year, several participants were able to attend the masterclass on a partial scholarship, which they won through our Resonating Body Competition for flutists or, for example, at the Dutch International Flute Competition.
The Resonating Body Festival will take place again next year, from August 21th–29th in Verona and Venice.
Applications for the Resonating Body Competition are open until February 15th 2027, with the chance to win scholarships to participate. We’re also offering our composition prize once again, and with a series of new masterclasses next year, we’ll be able to welcome a wide range of flutists beyond the Resonating Body Festival, in cities such as Milan, Copenhagen, Florence, and Amsterdam.
We’re thrilled that you’re part of the Resonating Body Journey and that you took the time to read this article. If you have any questions or are facing personal challenges, feel free to reach out to us anytime.
Let’s go, musicians!
FOLLOW ME: Instagram: @katharinamartini_flute @resonatingbody.academy
Katharina Martini is a flutist, composer, author and lecturer. She has won numerous international competitions, is a regular guest at renowned music festivals and regularly performs in the world's largest concert halls. Her discography includes several CDs, she teaches at universities, academies and festivals and is regularly asked to be a juror for competitions. 2024 her "Resonating Body Method" was published in a book by Trubcher Publications. Katharina Martini is the founder of the Resonating Body Academy and creator of the Resonating Body Festival, developed in close collaboration with her mother, Christiane Martini. Katharina Martini completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s studies with Thaddeus Watson at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Frankfurt am Main (Germany), graduating with distinction. She also received a MicroMaster from the University of Cambridge.