This summer a select group of Taft students will be Living the Arts in Italy.
"Collegium leaves June 7 for an unprecidented residency in Faicchio, Italy," explained music teacher and Collegium director Bruce Fifer."The two week program is called Living the Arts in Italy."
The Taft Collegium Musicum is a group of 50 vocalists who sing a repertoire that represents every major period of music history. They have also sung new music and commissioned several compositions. The Collegium has had master classes with a distinguished group of conductors and vocalists, and has toured Australia, Canada, China, Great Britain, France and Spain. They make their third trip to Italy this summer.
Faicchio is in the Campania region of Italy, northeast of Naples and northwest of Benevento. Following the three-hour trip from the airport in Rome, Taft travelers will be welcomed to Faicchio by Mayor Mario Borrelli. During their stay, Tafties will attend classes at the Castello di Faicchio (famously investigated for its paranormal activity), perform at masses and festivals throughout the region and soak up the beauty and culture of Italy. They will visit the Amalfi Coast, the Royal Palace in Caserta and Rome, to name just a few of the stops on their tour.
The trip culminates with Collegium performing during mass at the high altar in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City on Tuesday June 19 at 5 p.m. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world.
St. Peter's Square, Vatical City