Marriage at a Music Festival?!

April 19, 2012 - PRLog -- You heard correctly! The fifteenth anniversary of the Philadelphia International Music Festival, featuring members of the world-renown Philadelphia Orchestra, will be celebrated in a style fitting a storybook romance as Madison Marcucci (daughter of co-founder, Sandy Marcucci) and one of the festival’s earliest alumni, Robert Day III, will be married. But it is the details of this “alumni update” that make it all the more memorable.

The “classical” love story (get it?!) started twelve years ago when the two young musicians were participants in PIMF - which was at that time a new music festival conducted on the picturesque grounds of Bryn Mawr College. Five years later, our protagonists spent one of their “free nights” at the festival on their first date – to a Philadelphia Phillies game – and as the couple began a new stage in their lives (Madi going off to Juilliard and Rob to Princeton University), their love for music and involvement in PIMF together grew along with their relationship.

And now, on June 23, 2012, the seventh anniversary of that first date, Madison Marcucci and Robert Day III will wed at the very place that brought them together – the Philadelphia International Music Festival. “We believe this is the first time such a romance has initiated, grown, and come full circle as part of a festival like this anywhere. It is wonderful to know that our festival brought together two of our distinguished alumni in this way,” said Kim Fisher, Principal Second Violin of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Co-Founder/Artistic Director of PIMF.

The exciting news of a “festival wedding” broke in February at one of the festival's many year-round events - the PIMF Solo Recital Concert at the historic Cunningham Piano Company in the Germantown when Rob popped the question to Madi before a live audience following her performance of Mozart’s 5th Violin Concerto. Captured on video, "The Proposal" will stand as "one of the highlights of PIMF's digital library," said Fisher, who performs regularly at PIMF.

And to top off the excitement of this romantic wedding story (and in keeping with the musical theme of the Marcucci/Day wedding), Cristian Macelaru, Assistant Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra, will conduct a chamber orchestra as Madison and Rob walk down the aisle to exchange vows amidst the stunning architecture of Bryn Mawr's Thomas Great Hall.

"I have often wondered who from our alumni would be the first to marry," said Marcucci. "I never imagined that it would be my own daughter - to one of my favorite campers of all time."

Amazingly, this classical love story is interwoven with music in yet another way! Both Madison and Rob spent their young lives studying with respective members of the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra - both of whom have taught private lessons and presented Master Classes at PIMF for many years. Madison began studying with Kimberly Fisher at the young age of nine. Rob started cello lessons with Gloria dePasquale when he was ten.

"My family's life has been immersed with festival activities for as long as I can remember," said Madison." My fondest memories are from PIMF. My love for performance was developed through PIMF. Some of my deepest friendships were formed at PIMF. And - of course - I met Rob at PIMF. It seems natural to now get married at PIMF - a place I have loved my whole life."

"A goal of ours at PIMF is to 'bring music to daily life' for those who participate with us in the festival," said Larry Fisher, who has conducted and taught private lessons at the festival since its inception in 1997. "What a heart-warming, real-life story we will witness unfolding in our midst this year. I can think of no better way to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of PIMF."

Fisher is the father (and big fan) of Madison's teacher Kimberly Fisher, co-founder and artistic director of PIMF.

For more on the Marcucci/Day wedding, visit the festival's "Life & Style" section: http://www.philadelphiamusicfestival.org.  You can also follow them on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!philamusicfest or watch their love story unfold on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PhiladelphiaInternationalMusicFes...

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Featuring members of The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Philadelphia International Music Festival is a dynamic, 14-day summer festival designed for students of all symphonic instruments and skill levels, ages 12 through College-level/Young Professional