On Stage

In spaces ranging from sawmills and coffee farms to the major concert halls of the world, Ilumina delights audiences with a groundbreaking spirit of creative innovation, powered by a shared social mission of inclusive diversity.

Led by artistic director Jennifer Stumm, the Ilumina collective of artists unites dazzling emerging young musicians from Ilumina projects with established performers from dozens of countries.

In configurations ranging from 2 or 3 to a large ensemble of 30, Ilumina encourages the unexpected, weaving together music with narrative, classical music with folkloric tradition, dynamic stage movement with lighting design—all spotlighting the stunning tapestry of talents its musicians weave together.

Ilumina is committed to building respectful, vibrant and inclusive environments for its audiences. All Ilumina Festival performances are free to the public, with a focus on providing access to live music for under-served populations, in both rural and urban settings.

Education and Community

At Ilumina we believe music is a prism, illuminating every other aspect of life. Community and learning are the core and life of our work, onstage and off. We bring music and dialogue to underserved communities, both rural and urban, and ignite a passion for learning, deep listening in our educational residencies in schools, social projects, and at universities.

:ECO: — Eco is a holistic impact project with a special focus on agricultural communities. In partnership with Ilumina’s festival home Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza, ECO unites music with democratic ideals of expression, dialogue and quality of life for all. Sustainable practices produce a product of mastery and richness, in music and in our relationship with the earth and ourselves. ECO concerts and experiences amplify this message,

Work with Schools and Musical Social Projects — Whether an afternoon workshop or a week-long in-depth creative residency, Ilumina brings its inimitable model of musical enthusiasm to schools and in support of social music projects.

Residencies at Universities — Ilumina engages at the university level by engaging with challenging discussions around democratization of opportunity, social equity and creative innovation. The Ilumina community of touring artists represents a rich spectrum of diversity and experience and bring their narratives of change and leadership alongside their innovative performances.

Online

Amid the constantly changing landscape of the global pandemic, Ilumina was aware of the hardship especially faced by young musicians who for reasons of social and economic inequity did not have access to music education, and most specifically the richness of information that one-to-one lessons provide. Equal Music, a fully digital project, matches young musicians lacking such access with established artists and pedagogues around the world wanting to donate their time. Using a simple online matching system similar to online dating, musicians then build online teaching relationships. More than 800 musicians have been active in Equal Music in the last 20 months.