Be inspired and enjoy the beauty & tradition of Umbria
Practise the arts or cook Italian in the cultural and green heart of Italy
organised by Accademia Amsterdam
Deruta, Perugia, April 30 – May 5, 2024
for all interested people, friends or partners, these courses can be combined
Receive an attractive discount when you subscribe before March 1, 2024!
The ancient architecture and enchanting panoramas are your source of inspiration.
New courses photography: learn about techniques around different subjects.
Learn traditional Italian recipes from a real “La Mamma”.
Alongside workshops vocal ensemble for (choir) singers with a basic level and others.
Accademia Amsterdam organises courses for music and art lovers in Deruta (Perugia), famous for its majolica ceramics. Imagine photographing, drawing or painting in a cosy medieval “borgo”, where the arts surround you. Here you can learn the tricks of the traditional Italian cuisine from a real “La Mamma”. We are sure that this will be an unforgettable experience.
We decided to organise the courses at the beginning of May, as the weather is ideal. The musicians of Accademia Amsterdam treat you with an enticing opening concert with chamber music. On Sunday May 5, an extra participant's presentation will take place in such a unique location that we cannot reveal the secret until early spring...
1. Photography NEW!
Turn your passion for photography into unforgettable works of art amid the enchanting beauty of Umbria! Under the guidance of two professional photographers, you will learn the secrets of composition, lighting, portrait photography, landscape photography, strobist photography and much more in five days. It's not just about learning the technique, but about applying what you've learned. This course is accessible to both beginners and advanced students. It is desirable to have a camera with the option of adjusting shutter speed, ISO and aperture. In some cases, you can use a camera of an high-end smartphone.
Duration of the course: 1 to 5 days (as desired). This course can be very well combined with vocal ensemble, drawing & painting, or Italian cooking.
2. Drawing & Painting
Course participants will get professional guidance from our qualified tutor. You are welcome to this course, whether you are experienced or you want to give it a try. The drawing and painting courses will take place in the open air or in the inspiring medieval center. We invite you to be inspired by the romantic little streets with ancient buildings or the enchanting panoramas. Feel free to choose your own subject(s) in accordance with the tutor. Several drawing or painting techniques can be applied at wish: charcoal, ink, pencil, wax pastels or (oil/acrylic) paint.
Duration of the course: 1 to 5 days (as desired). This course can be very well combined with vocal ensemble, photography or Italian cooking.
3. Italian cooking
The cooking courses will be dedicated to the traditional Italian cuisine, from “fabulous” appetizers to desserts. It highlights the evolution from country cooking to the most technologically advanced kitchen. We will pay attention to the preparation of fresh pastas and home-made pastries.
After the first course day, we adapt the courses to the needs of the participants, asking them which recipes and techniques they would like to learn. At request, you can cook rural dishes of the Baroque era, following the original recipes. The courses are taking place in a well-equipped kitchen in Perugia or Deruta, under guidance of professional cook and sommelier Cinzia Ubaldi.
During the course-week, participants can enjoy the results of the cooking course at lunch or at the common dinner.
Duration of the course: 1 to 5 days (as desired). This course can be very well combined with vocal ensemble, photography or drawing & painting.
Watch and share the video here to get an impression of the atmosphere.
Tutors
Curricula
As a child, Linda van der Toorn discovered her father's camera, photography has fascinated her. This childhood love has now grown into a passion in which she likes to invest her time and enthusiasm. Linda is interested in all kinds of photography, but has decided to focus on photo shoots, concert photography and wedding reports. She has noticed that she can easily make contact with children and can go into a photo shoot with the same energy level. Although this provides the necessary humor, it also produces very fun and spontaneous photos.
A few years ago Linda discovered how to combine her passion for photography with her love for music. Since then she has successfully photographed many (theatre) concerts and musicians. This is what her brought to the Accademia Amsterdam courses in Italy.
Wouter van der Toorn initially started as an assistant photographer. He was responsible for the equipment and made sure that all items got where they were needed. During this process he realized that photography stimulated him and that he had ideas himself about what he would like to do with a particular photo shoot. Wouter followed workshops and mastered different techniques. He sought more and more information about subjects that interested him and has now become a professional photographer. Wouter says proudly that he develops ideas for photo shoots and can apply his knowledge in a creative way to take beautiful photos.
Capturing precisely those moments that demonstrate tension, emotion and release is something Wouter also likes to include in his wedding photography.
Marc Gerretsen graduated at the Academy Minerva in Groningen (The Netherlands). Typically, his fascination with illusionism: create spatiality on a flat surface.Knowing which form and display this in the second and or third dimension. His preference is realistic art (the feast of recognition) but that doesn't mean that there is no way to underlying abstract elements.
Marc Gerretsen had several exhibitions of his paintings and gave lessons on the Fons Vitae Lyceum in Amsterdam and taught at the Volksuniversiteit of Lelystad. He illustrated for the monthly Railhobby. Currently he is working on a retrospective of his work space, cart modelling. Marc Gerretsen has his own publishing company “MG Card Models” where he publishes his work.
During the course, participants get inspired by the city. The course will be focussed on cityscapes, vedute, and/or still life and pays attention to: perspective, shape, drawing, sketching, light/dark and composition. Aspects that can be discussed further are: color, painting, and a given 'chance'.
Cinzia Ubaldi was born in Rome. In 1981 she graduated as engineer of the hotel business at IPATS (Professional State Institute for Touristic Hotel Manager) in Formia in the province of Latina. She has experience as a cashier at the Sheraton hotel in 1983 and then at the Hilton Cavalieri in Rome. In 1985 Cynthia has lived in Germany where she had a Gasthaus in the Elzas with her husband Giacomino Domenico and his associates. After five years she returned to Italy where she worked for a year at the hotel Le Silve di Armenzano (Assisi).
In 1992 Cynthia Ubaldi has opened the restaurant “La Locanda degli Artisti” (The Inn of the Artists). She got different positions: in 1997, certificate of professional sommelier and in 2001, official speaker of AIS (Italian Sommelier Association). In 2003 she specialized in food and wine pairing technique (AIS). She has written several articles on wine pairing: in 2006 a chapter in the book “Anche tu Norcino”, and in 2007 chapters in the book “Maestri Norcini e Maestri Salumieri”.
Since 2001 he teaches Umbrian Cuisine at the Università dei Sapori (University of Flavors) of Perugia in various collaborations over the years. At present she works as free lance sommelier, cooking tutor and cook.
