Welcome!
Presented for the first time in 1951 by church musicians of the two major protestant churches of the old town of Nürnberg, the Internationale Orgelwoche Nürnberg - Musica Sacra (ION) is one of Europe's biggest and oldest festivals of sacred and organ music. Each year Nürnberg becomes the "centre of the organ universe", as Karl-Heinz Göttert and Eckhard Isenberg write in their Organ Guide to Germany of 1998.
Nowadays, however, the ION stands for much more than just organ music: choral and symphonic concerts are also part of the programme, as well as academic symposia and special events for young people.
Another central part of the festival is the International Organ Competition (first held in 1968), one of the most respected events of its kind. Newly restructured, since 2007 it is organised biannually as an interpretation competition as part of the ION.
Masterclasses with renowned organists as well as numerous services in which church music plays an important role complete the programme of the ION.
Our internet pages are designed to present the variety of our programme and to invite you to attend our events: welcome to the 57th ION Festival 2008!