Life & Style

Love sweets? Check out Bredenbeck's Bakery!

We are proud to announce our newest sponsor, Bredenbeck's Bakery! They were generous enough to donate one of their beautiful wedding cakes for our special day. Make sure you take a look at their delicious and attractive desserts. Here's more about them:

A Philadelphia tradition since 1889, Bredenbeck’s Bakery bakes its delicious cookies, cakes, pies and pastries with the finest all-natural ingredients. Founded by Frederick Robert Bredenbeck’s, then passed down to Walter and Otto Haug, the bakery has been owned and operated in its Chestnut Hill location by Karen H. Boyd Rohde for the past 29 years. Bredenbeck’s is famous for its delicious butter cookies, fancy miniatures and gourmet wedding cakes, all baked on premises. The bakery has been featured on TLC’s Fabulous Cakes and Outrageous Kid Parties, and has created cakes for Elton John, Jon Bon Jovi, The Philadelphia Phillies, Tastykake, the Philadelphia Zoo and more. Visit www.bredenbecks.com, call us at 215-247-7374, or stop on by to taste for yourself! Our historic shop is located at 8126 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118. 

PIMF's love story: Our first wedding

Hello all! It's been a while since we've posted, but that's only because we've been so busy here at PIMF! Here's an update on what we've been doing.

Our biggest news is our very first festival wedding. This year, we will not only be holding our annual summer festival, but we will be the hosts of Madison Caterina Marcucci and Rob Eugene Day III's very special day! The Philadelphia Orchestra will be performing during the ceremony. We have a press release and a podcast (with Classical Music Discoveries' Ken Hedgecock) out about it already.  Feel free to check them out. We've also been featured in Ed Justen's Opera and Classical Music Today blog, which was possible thanks to our Twitter account.

This year, we are celebrating our 15th season. WOW. Time flies, doesn't it? Of course, the festival is the heart of the wedding festivities, so our campers will not only be receiving lessons and master classes with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, but they'll also be a part of this historic event. The festival is held at Bryn Mawr College once again and will be held from June 16- 29. There are still spots and a bit of scholarship money available for those interested.

So, what are you waiting for? This is just the tip of the iceberg for all of the exciting events here at PIMF... come be a part of all of this history in the making with us!

Congratulations to our Wedding Partner

Lou Polino of Lifestyles Tuxedo and Dynamic Crew

We already knew you were the BEST! 

Rob is going to look so amazing in his tux from Lifestyles, who will be outfitting all the handsome groomsmen as well as our Father of the Bride, Mr. Richard Marcucci and Father of the Groom, Dr. Robert Day.

Can’t wait to see all the photos of our stylish gentlemen in the Main Line wedding of the year!

In the meantime…here is a fabulous pic of Lou and his son sporting The Polino Collection, available exclusively at Lifestyles Tuxedos in Turnersville, NJ.

Does anyone think that we can get Rob to pose in his tux on a motorcycle?  Hummmm.

"A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words"

We are very pleased to announce that sue b photography (www.suebphotography.com) is PIMF’s exclusive photographer and will be shooting Madi & Rob’s wedding!

Having done some Facebook stalking of Madi and Rob we’ve realized that the groom-to-be takes a pretty funky photo.  Check him out at one of his best friend’s weddings:

Do you think he’ll pull one of these crazy dance moves on the dance floor of his own wedding this June? Madi, on the other hand, seems to be a bit more photogenic.  Here she is at that verysame wedding posing with the beautiful bride (and Madi’s future bridesmaid), Lexi:

Sue will also be handling photography for all of our major events at PIMF this year, preserving memories of this special time for everyone in the PIMF Family.  This relationship will include the  of the first official PIMF annual album that will be unveiled in July and available for purchase online by campers.  Sue also takes amazing headshots for musicians.  Check out her website at www.suebphotography.com and see if you can find the picture of Philadelphia Orchestra violinist, Richard Amoroso!

The Proposal

Monday, March 5, 2012

About The Groom

Rob Day is on top of the world right now. He has the love of a gorgeous and talented girl named Madison Marcucci and they will be married in just a little over three months. This twenty-four year old Princeton grad was also recently accepted to Penn-Law and will be attending this fall. It's a good day for Rob.

Rob has lived his entire life in Pennsylvania with his parents and younger brother. His family is full of talented musicians including his Father who played Trumpet, his Mother who played Violin and his younger brother, Andrew who currently plays Cello in Princeton's student orchestra. It's no wonder Rob turned to music also becoming a very skilled cello player. His musical talents first began on the piano at six years old. Cello however became his instrument of choice in high school, college and at the Philadelphia International Music Festival. Rob still enjoys playing piano and is quite fond of the pianist, Wilhem Kemff. His favorite cellist is Jacqueline du Pre. When not listening to classical music, Rob enjoys the fun tunes of the Beach Boys and the modern-folk melodies of Mumford and Sons. His favorite childhood band, who is still near and dear to his heart is non other than Weezer. 

Rob's quite, and sweet demeanor pale in comparison to his hard-working extracurricular career. He worked as Editor and Chief for his high school paper and for a conservative, philosopher magazine in college. He played in his high school orchestra and what many probably don't know is that Rob is also a singer. He sang Tenor 2 in an A Capella group! Rob says his greatest accomplishment so far has been his education. He feels very blessed to have gone to such incredible institutions like Princeton and his theological training at Westminster. He is really looking forward to law school this fall. 

The groom is very excited about his upcoming wedding at the grounds of Bryn Mawr College, home of the Philadelphia International Music Festival and where he first met his bride. Rob has had many great memories with PIMF including playing solo with the Philadelphia Orchestra when he won the Vivalde Award in 2006. He says this amazing moment almost, but not quite tops the best experience of all, meeting Madi. The couple had their very first date while attending the Festival. They went to a Philly's game and had their first kiss upon returning to Bryn Mawr. Madi and Rob will be married exactly seven years from their first date, June 23,
2012. (See Rob below with his best buddy and younger brother, Andrew.)

Saturday, February 25, 2012

MADI goes dress shopping!

What will she choose? A-Line... Mermaid... Ball Gown... a Sweetheart neckline... Glamorous style... Understated... White... Cream... Sleeveless... Lace... Beading... Train... Veil...  Shoes... So many decisions!

The classical love story continues as Madison, her Mother Sandy and one of her bridesmaids, Jess Milne, all headed to the local Nordstrom's private bridal boutique to look at wedding dresses for the very first time this past weekend. 


Madi tried on five dresses that were hand selected for her based on the features she most wanted. She fell in love with two dresses but one brought on that special "feeling" all brides hope for. It will probably be the winner. This very special dress may not look "hollywood" but will be seen on the big screen and featured in an upcoming Blockbuster film this fall!

Madi is pretty sure she will be wearing a veil. She picked up some ideas but nothing has been decided yet. Madi would like to wear high heels for her special day but worries about her ability to walk in them. The bride admits she has pretty tiny feet and has had trouble keeping shoes on in the past. Straps will be necessary.

The girls had very little time to start looking at bridesmaids dresses so they plan to go back out this coming weekend. Madi says she had a great time shopping and that it was a lot of fun spending this special moment with her Mom and dear friend. She commends the employees on excellent customer service. "They were very nice and accommodating," says Madi. Wedding Stylist, Jessica Schwartz created a very relaxing atmosphere which made the experience of picking out dresses very enjoyable.

Rob has decided to be a traditional groom and does not want to see the dress, nor Madi in it until she walks down the isle.  

Next step: Picking out bridesmaids dresses!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

We are proud to present a classical Love Story...

On Saturday, February 18th there was a surprise at the Cunningham Piano Student Concert Series... an engagement!

The Philadelphia International Music Festival is adding bells to its musical repertoire this year, wedding bells that is! The bride is none other than Madison Caterina Marcucci, daughter of Sandy Marcucci, Co Founder and Executive Director of PIMF. Madison is a 2010 Juilliard Graduate and current teaching assistant to Kimberly Fisher, Principal Second Violin in the Philadelphia Orchestra and also Co Founder, Artistic Director for PIMF. Madison met her soon to be groom, Robert Eugene III while they were young students at the music festival. Rob is a 2010 Princeton University graduate and cellist under the direction of Gloria dePasquale, Cellist, Philadelphia Orchestra. Not long after they met the couple had their very first date at a Philly’s game during the festival in 2005. 

The young couple both share a passion for performing and have grown up listening to and learning from members of one of the world's greatest symphonies: The Philadelphia Orchestra. Madison has attended the music festival since she was just nine years old when the festival first opened its doors in 1997. Having spent so many wonderful years learning and performing together at the festival’s beautiful venue, Bryn Mawr College, the couple will be keeping with tradition and plan to have their wedding ceremony at the college surrounded by their PIMF family during this year’s Music Festival. The PIMF student orchestra will perform at the wedding and be conducted by Cristy Macelaru of the Philadelphia Orchestra. They plan to marry exactly 7 years later to the day of that first date, June 23, 2012.

The Marcucci family and the Day family become one.