Our Story
FIO MONDO develops the next generation of performing artists through exceptional training, professional-level performance, international collaboration, and immersive cultural experiences.
The Festival of International Opera (FIO) was founded in 2012 by Kathryn Hartgrove, Adriana Kayama, and Sidnei Alferes, who shared a vision of creating meaningful international opportunities for emerging opera singers. Their goal was to bring young artists together from around the world to perform, study, collaborate, and broaden their artistic and vocal experience in an international setting.
The festival launched in Brazil in 2013 in partnership with the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Its inaugural season, FIO BRAZIL, featured three fully staged operas and performances in six cities throughout the State of São Paulo. The success of that first season established a strong foundation for FIO’s growth and ultimately led to the expansion of the festival into Italy.
In 2018, FIO ITALIA began a collaboration with Centro Studi Italiani (CSI), creating an immersive festival that combines high-level musical and theatrical training with Italian language and cultural study. CSI is a premier language school in Italy, and their school in Urbania operates as our home base during our festival. Together with CSI, we brought together an accomplished international faculty and staff while offering young artists the opportunity to live, study, and perform in Italy.
When the COVID-19 pandemic made international travel impossible, FIO ITALIA adapted by creating a fully online festival that included filmed productions and virtual instruction. We resumed our in-person festival in Urbania, Italy in 2022.
FIO continues to expand its offerings and to collaborate with artists around the country. Our faculty and guest artists are pulled from around the globe; past guest artists have included Eva Mei, Ernesto Palacio, Mariella Devia, and many more. We’ve also built partnerships with local orchestras and festivals. In collaboration with the Fondazione Pergolesi Spontini, FIO produced three rarely-performed works: Baldassare Galuppi’s Il filosofo di campagna (2024), Giovanni Paisiello’s Le gare generose (2025), and Gaspare Spontini’s Li finti filosofi (2026). Finally, our orchestrated productions are made possible by our partnership with the laRespighi Orchestra.
As FIO’s international presence has grown, so too has its vision. Interest in developing programs in Mexico and Panama has opened the door to new opportunities for singers throughout the Americas. In 2023, this expanding mission led to the creation of FIO MONDO, the parent organization encompassing FIO’s international programs.
FIO MONDO
International programs in opera, music, and cultural exchange
FIO ITALIA
Our flagship summer festival in Urbania, Italy
