Chamber Singers - Round 4

I apologize once again for the delay in posting updates of the Rome trip. This next update is another round of introductions to the great students who represent the Chamber Singers.

Kelsey Brekke

Class Year: 2013

Major: Psychology/Criminal Justice minor

Vocal Part: Soprano

What has been your favorite experience in Italy?

Oh, for sure it is the food. The food is a great part of their culture. I especially enjoy the desserts, like tiramisu and gelatto!

Kate Larson

Class Year: 2013

Major: Philosophy

Vocal Part: Soprano

What has been your favorite musical piece to perform on this tour?

Preghiera Semplice by A. Eric Heukeshoven

Aaron Pepple

Class Year: 2013

Major: Theatre

Vocal Part: Baritone

What has been your favorite experience(s) in Italy?

I enjoyed exploring Rome - especially the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and all of the street performers.

Steve Ronchak

Class Year: 2012

Major: Graphic Design

Vocal Part: Tenor

What has been your impression of Italy?

I have been amazed with how busy Rome is. It is far more fast-paced than what I am used to in the Midwest.

Danielle Scholbrock

Class Year: 2012

Major: English Literature/Music minor

Vocal Part: Soprano

What has been your favorite experience in Italy?

One evening, eleven of us went to a local restaurant in Rome and experienced the best of Italian culture. It was such a great time!

Sightseeing, a great walk and the opera!

This next post is going to showcase photos from a concert, some sights in Rome with students, a great walk I had at sunset one evening and an Italian opera.

Concert at Collegio San Guiseppe


The Chamber Singers sang a concert for the students who attend Collegio San Guiseppe.  This school is in the heart of Rome, right off the Piazza di Spagna (or the Spanish Steps).  The school is run by the Brothers of the Christian Schools (same order that runs Saint Mary's).

                              The courtyard at the Collegio San Guiseppe

               The Chamber Singes get ready to perform at Collegio San Guiseppe

Sightseeing around Rome...

After the concert at Collegio San Guiseppe, a few of us set out to explore more of historic Rome.  We had about 5 hours to explore many of the historic, religious and artistic sites (and maybe some food establishments as well).  As I have been to Rome before, I made sure to show the group the fashion district of Rome (located near the Spanish Steps) and a classic dessert that is served in the Piazza Navona. Enjoy the pictures from the sightseeing.

                   The famous Spanish Steps - a very popular spot in Rome

                           Katie Sapper taking a walk down the Spanish Steps

                                  Steve Ronchak taking in the Spanish Steps

Bryan Moore, Michelle Cullen, Katie Sapper, Jessica Ingvalson and Katie Keck walk down Via Condotti through the major fashion district of Rome.  

Bryan Moore and Katie Sapper look happily at the Jimmy Choo store on Via Condotti

                    The view from Via Condotti toward the Spanish Steps

              A pyramid in the heart of Rome.  It was attached to a castle/fortress.  

                          One of the big sites in Rome, the Pantheon

Jessica Ingvalson, Alex Thomas, Katie Keck and Michelle Cullen at the Trevi Fountain

 This is the famous Italian dessert called tartufo - you can find it in the Piazza Navona.  

Katie Keck, Michelle Cullen and Jessica Ingvalson enjoy some tartufo in the Piazza Navona

On a walk back to Casa Lasalle, sunset over the Tiber River looking toward Saint Peter's Basilica

                                           The Castel San'Angelo at dusk

Pope Benedict XXVI still working away.  The Papal Palace that looks onto Saint Peter's Square

                     The beautiful fountain in Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican

An Italian Opera

A group of us decided to take in a true Italian musical event.  We decided to experience an Italian Opera.  

We went and saw La Traviata an opera by Giuseppe Verdi.  The music was performed by Filarmonica D'Opera di Roma.  It was a fabulous evening and probably my most enjoyable evening in Rome.  Good times spent with great friends.  The opera took place in Chiesa All Saints, an Anglican Church not far from Piazza Spagna.

              Matt Polum and Gary Polum during intermission of the opera

Chamber Singers - Round 3

I introduce you to five new Chamber Singers.....

Courtney Gasner-White
Class Year:  2014
Major:  Undecided
Vocal Part:  Alto

What has been your favorite experience in Italy?


Really enjoyed visiting the ancient Roman sites, and seeing how people lived and witnessing their culture and architecture.

Jeff Thomas
Class Year:  2012
Major:  Computer Science
Vocal Part:  Baritone

What has been your favorite experience in Italy?


I have really enjoyed taking in this beautiful city.  I really enjoyed seeing the Trevi Fountain and the Coliseum.

Heather Hurner
Class Year:  2014
Major:  Nuclear Medicine Technology
Vocal Part:  Alto

What are your favorite musical works that you are performing on tour?

Lagrime d'Amante al Sepolcro dell'Amata by Claudio Monteverdi and Preghiera Semplice by A. Eric Heukeshoven

Lydia Munroe
Class Year:  2014
Major:  Theatre Arts/Vocal Performance
Vocal Part:  Alto

What has been your favorite experience in Italy?

The sightseeing in Rome has been absolutely extraordinary.  I really enjoyed seeing the Roman Forum and experiencing the Roman Empire artifacts.

Alex Green
Class Year:  2014
Major:  Theatre Arts
Vocal Part:  Baritone

What has been your favorite experience in Italy?


I really enjoyed walking through the ancient Roman ruins. It was interesting to picture what it was like to live during the Roman empire.

This is the Day - Mass at Saint Peter's Basillica

Friday, March 11th, marked a very important day on the SMU Chamber Singers tour of Rome.  They had the wonderful honor of serving as guest choir at the 5:15 Mass at Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.  This great church stands as the spiritual home of the Roman Catholic Church.

During the day leading up to the Mass at Saint Peter's, the group had a free day to explore Rome.  It was an absolute beautiful day to discover all of Rome's greatness.

Below, you will see pics of the Chamber Singers at Saint Peter's.  As we were not able to take pictures during Mass, these pictures are from before and after the service.  I do plan on having an audio link on here of some of the music in a couple of days.

This service was very moving.  I know a few tears came to my eyes.  On this day I was so proud to be an alumnus of Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.  The SMU Chamber Singers sounded beautiful, and I am very proud of all those associated with this choir.

~Bob

                  The Chamber Singers enter the choir area in Saint Peter's Basilica

                  The Chamber Singers get adjusted to the choir area at Saint Peter's

           A look toward the front altar from the choir area in Saint Peter's Basilica

                                 The main altar at Saint Peter's Basilica

                            The Chamber Singers preparing before Mass

                        The Chamber Singers warming up in Saint Peter's

          After Mass, the Chamber Singers gather for a group shot in front of the altar

                       Another group shot where you can see the full altar


After Mass, the Chamber Singers went out a private side exit of the basilica to where the bus is located.  The bus was parked in a section of Vatican City where the public is not allowed.  The Chamber Singers were granted the opportunity to walk around for about 5-10 minutes to see this private area of the Vatican.

                       A shot of the area that is right behind Saint Peter's Basilica

              A group shot of the Chamber Singers in front of a palace which is
              located behind Saint Peter's

Palazzo della Rovere, Vatican Museum and Saint Peter's Basilica

The next part of the tour was a busy day.  We were received at the Palazzo della Rovere by the Order of the Holy Sepulchre.  Here a song (the piece that Dr. O'Shea wrote) was being dedicated to the Order and to Cardinal Foley.  The Cardinal was unable to receive us, but other dignataries from the order were there and gave us a tour of their beautiful space.  This palace is just a block away from Vatican City.  Can you say prime real estate.

            The Chamber Singers perform O Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem at the
            Palazzo della Rovere

After the visit at the Palazzo del Rovere the students had a short break for lunch and then it was on to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter's Basilica.  We had a three-hour guided tour of these beautiful spaces.  Some pictures are attached, but not even the photos can describe the splendor that is in these venues.  Simply amazing!

            The dome of Saint Peter's Basilica from a courtyard within the Vatican
            Museums

              Bryan Moore and Katie Sapper pose for the camera in a Vatican Museum
              courtyard.

                                          Some of the Vatican gardens

                      Some students take in the view before continuing on with the
                      Vatican Museum tour

                   Tyler Ringeisen, Gabbi Langan, Courtney Ganser-White, Heather Hurner
                   and Jessica Ingvalson hang out by a fountain in a Vatican Museum
                   Courtyard.

                     Michelangelo's Pieta which is located in Saint Peter's Basilica

                            The main altar at Saint Peter's Basilica

Tour of the Generalate of the Christian Brothers

So, the Saint Mary's Chamber Singers are staying at Casa Lasalle.  This facility is connected to the Generalate or the "Motherhouse" of the Christian Brothers.  The group was given a nice tour of the main facility.  Here are a few pics from the tour.

        A model of the Generalate, which is in the main entrance of the facility

              The students listening to Br. John on the tour of the Generalate

               A very famous painting of Saint John Baptist de Lasalle.  This is the          
               original that hangs in a chapel inside the Generalate

               A portrait in the Generalate of Brother John Johnston, a former Superior
               General of the Christian Brothers and a Saint Mary's University of
               Minnesota alum

                       After the tour, Ulysses Isaola, Courtney Gasner-White, Kelsey
                       Brekke, and Heather Hurner gather for a photo