From Summit to Rome New Jerseyans perform on prestigious International Festival

The Continuo Arts Symphonic Chorus will perform at the prestigious International Festival Pro Musica E Arte Sacra. The Continuo Arts Foundation choruses are no stranger to the Vatican or Vatican City’s non-profit musical extension, Fondazione Pro Musica E Arte Sacra. In 2008 Continuo Arts Founder Candace Wicke was the first woman conductor to appear on the Fondazione’s annual international festival in Rome and only the second American, following the great Paul Salamonovich.

On November 14th, members of the Continuo Arts Symphonic Chorus will travel to Rome with many non-singing music and art aficionados. Over a hundred strong, concerts will be presented in St. Peter’s Basilica and the Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Mass of the Children, a major work of English composer John Rutter, will be presented. It is a non-liturgical Missa Brevis, or “short mass” with the traditional Latin and Greek Mass text interwoven with several English poems. Mass of the Children consists of five movements: Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus and Benedictus, Agnus Dei and Dona Nobis Pacem.

This international festival also includes performances by other world renowned artists such as the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Chen Reiss, Christoph Eschenbach, IlluminArt Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, the Vienna Boys Choir, and Coro e Orchestra dell’Academia Teatro alla Scala and others. Attending the concerts will be audience members comprising VIP guests, Vatican Clergy, and international media. Invited dignitaries include the American Ambassador to Italy and of course Pope Francis himself. Housed in the patriarchal basilicas across Rome, everyone present will undoubtedly experience the transformative power of great music and art while forging cultural and international exchange at the highest level.

The Continuo Arts Foundation offers New Jersey’s most comprehensive Intergenerational Choral Program with seven ensembles for singers of all ages. At the newly opened Conservatory, Continuo offers piano, vocal and instrumental lessons for beginners through advanced in addition to audition prep, musical theater workshops and more. For more information visit www.continuoarts.com or call 908-264-5324.