The 12th Ilumina Festival
January 6-17, 2027

The Ilumina Festival unfolds through a sequence of concerts and encounters that reflect its artistic vision: bringing exceptional music to diverse spaces while fostering meaningful connections between artists, audiences, and communities.

From intimate performances held within the Serraria Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza — dedicated exclusively to rural workers and the local community — to major concerts in São Paulo’s most renowned venues, the festival traces a journey that bridges landscapes, contexts, and music.

Each concert is part of a carefully curated program that highlights collaboration between international soloists and Ilumina’s young artists, offering audiences a unique experience of shared creation, dialogue, and musical excellence.

Jennifer Stumm

Founder and Artistic Director of Ilumina

Violist, artistic director, and speaker Jennifer Stumm follows a boldly creative path, leading projects that combine musical passion with transformative social innovation. Known for the “opaline beauty” (The Washington Post) of her sound, Jennifer performs around the world as both a viola soloist and as Ilumina’s Artistic Director. She founded the Ilumina project in 2015 as a new vision for 21st century creativity, united with social activism and community-led artistry.

A committed speaker and writer, Jennifer lectures regularly at NASA on how the arts can drive innovation for a better world. Her viral TEDx talk on the viola and the blessings of being different, The Imperfect Instrument, was selected by TED editors as one of their all-time favorites and led to her solo debut with the Berlin Philharmonic.

Born in Atlanta, Jennifer grew up in a family of singers immersed in Appalachian tradition. She studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School, while also developing an interest in politics at the University of Pennsylvania. Jennifer Stumm is Professor of Viola at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna and performs on a 1589 Gasparo da Salò viola, generously on loan from a private trust.