CCES Choir Performs Sacred Music in Historic Churches of Italy
by Molly Aiken, Upper School Music Instructor

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CCES musicians and chaperones pose for a group photo in the Piazza di San Marco,
in front of St. Mark’s Basilica.

Members of the CCES Upper School Concert Choir and their families recently toured Italy and sang at some distinguished sacred venues during winter break in March. The trip began in Rome with a sight-seeing tour of ancient Rome—the Forum, the Coliseum, Palatine Hill and the Circus Maximus, the Arch of Constantine, and other ancient sights, plus a general tour of the city, including the fabulous Piazza Navano, Trevi Fountains, and the Paladium.

The next day, following a guided tour of the Vatican, including the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica, the choir performed at Santa Maria dei Miracoli, a large church near the famous Spanish Steppes. The concert was attended by a number of locals as well as international tourists who seemed greatly to appreciate hearing the variety of sacred repertoire.

In Florence, the choir visited the Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio, and toured the Galleria Academia to view Michelangelo’s David and other significant art works. The choir performed at the Santa Maria Maggiore Church, its magnificent pipe organ intensifying the beauty of Vivaldi’s Gloria, one of the pieces our students performed. Organ master Bryan Kirby, who teaches German at CCES, also played a prelude and postlude at this concert enjoyed primarily by local residents.

Performing Music in the 18th Century Basilica For Which It Was Composed
In Venice, the choir began with a water taxi (vaporetto) down the Grand Canal and a tour of the area surrounding San Marco. After dinner, the choir sang at a Mass in Basilica San Marco, where the significance of their music, some of which had been written for this very facility, took on new meaning. A visit to the Doge’s Palace and a glass factory also highlighted this city tour.

During the tour, there was plenty of time for shopping and exploring the delightful haunts of these wonderful cities. Members of the entourage included CCES music director Molly Aiken, Kathy Atkinson, Katie Atkinson (grade 12), Drew Brandel (11), McAdams Christopher (9), Caroline Clark, Reese Clark, Sheldon Clark (10), Cody Cobb (10), William Dorn (9), Ben Kirby (5), CCES German teacher Bryan Kirby, Ruth Kirby, Mary McAbee, Will McAbee (11), Connor McEvoy (10), Miriam Nicholson, Jonathan Pierce (11), Dexter Rogers (10), Malcolm Rogers, Melissa Rogers, Paige Schumaker (12), Malinda Spinks, CCES biology teacher Reggie Titmas, Jr., Reggie Timas III (10), and Colin Walker (9). The group returned home tired but exhilarated—another great CCES experience!!