The International Festival of University Music is back!

The Belfort International Festival of University Music (FIMU in French) is back this year for a 34th edition held from 9 to 12 September. Over 800 student and amateur musicians from about 20 countries are again expected to share a common passion, music, whether it’s classical, jazz, world, modern or new.

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Organized and funded by the city of Belfort located in Eastern France, and with the support of many student associations and national partners, the "Festival International de Musique Universitaire" is held every year in Spring. Since the 2020 edition had to be cancelled, the 2021 edition will be held in late summer, from 9 to 12 September, in the presence of artists who should have performed last year.

A free, friendly and diverse festival

“Free, friendly and diverse” are the three keywords of a unique festival attracting hundreds of amateur and student musicians from the six corners of the hexagon and many other countries.

Free, in the sense that all concerts are open to everyone, without paying any fee. Being free doesn’t mean less quality, since all musicians were selected beforehand by an ad hoc committee including professionals who completed “sound studies on art offers”. Friendly, because the FIMU is first of all a place where open-mindedness and multiculturalism blossom, as the program shows. Diverse, because the city of Belfort and its partners offer services adapted to disabled individuals to fully enjoy this cultural event.

A Brazilian patron and artists from all over the world

As the dedicated website says, “The FIMU is happy to have a female patron in 2021: the exceptional singer Flavia Coelho”. Flavia Coelho is indeed a Brazilian singer whose music “enriched with many influences from all over the world” translates “a desire to mix and change types, as a bridge between tradition and modernity, just like the FIMU does”. According to the event planners, she will be “the ambassador of the festival who will work to make it shine and radiate beyond the Grand-Est region”.

Many artists were also included in the programme, from French musicians to musicians from all over Europe such as Italy, the UK, Germany, Spain, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Slovenia, but also Bolivia, Canada, Mali, Burkina Faso and Israel.

Strict health protocol and responsible festival

In compliance with national directives, the planners of the festival indicate that a valid Health Pass (Pass Sanitaire) will be mandatory to access the festival. You will thus need to present a Health Pass and ID card to access the concerts.

In addition, the FIMU is “responsible of its environment”. The festival strives to “reduce waste and protect the cleanliness of the site” by selling vintage plastic glasses and implementing a “recycling patrol” made of volunteers “walking the festival” to raise awareness among the public on waste recycling. Stands will also be available onsite to provide information to the public about these aspects of sustainable and responsible development.

 For more information: 

- International Festival of University Music website

Photo credit: © Ville de Belfort