Thanks to the St John’s Opportunities Fund, Sofia was able to attend the St. John’s Chapel Choir tour of Italy earlier this year.
In July 2024, St John’s Chapel Choir embarked on a tour to Italy, the first international tour since COVID-19 restrictions. The choir represented St John’s College in different concert venues across Perugia and Panicale by performing a range of sacred and secular music.
We set out on the 3rd July, arriving safely on Italian soil. We then made a short but scenic journey to Assisi in order to rehearse for our concert in Perugia the following evening. We also had the chance to explore the local area which entailed a visit to the Basilica di San Francesco, the resting place of Saint Francis.
The following day saw the choir travel to nearby Perugia where we were able to take in the sights of the historic town and enjoy a refreshing gelato before our rehearsal. Later that day, we performed our first concert in the Sala dei Notari alongside the I Trobadores, an Early Music ensemble based in the local region. We performed music ranging from Stanford and Duruflé to MacMillan but a collective highlight for the choir was a joint encore with the I Trobadores of traditional English folk songs. This concert was part of the internationally recognised annual Musica dal Mondo festival which celebrates young choirs and orchestras so it was a real privilege to be involved. It was also lovely to talk to the I Trobadores more about their ensemble and the local area over dinner. We thanked them for their hospitality whilst warmly welcoming them to visit Durham, so watch this space!
On Friday, the choir had a free day to explore more of Perugia. Many of us were able to walk to the Etruscan Arch, the ancient gate to Perugia, whilst also finding the time to indulge in some local cuisine. On Saturday, we travelled to Panicale to rehearse and perform our final concert in the stunning venue of Collegiata di San Michele Arcangelo. We sang a slightly extended programme with additions from Weir and Parry alongside a demonstration of the organ during the interval from our Director of Music, Louise Reid. That evening, the choir were generously treated to refreshments from the hosts before heading back to rest up for a day of travelling.
Overall, the opportunity to continue such a valued form of worship within the St John’s College community beyond Durham was both a culturally enriching and memorable occasion. The concerts attracted large numbers of people in both venues and allowed us to curate and affirm relationships with hosts and fellow music ensembles that will hopefully continue to flourish. A big thank you is to the members of the Choir and college staff and finally for the support given by St John’s College Opportunity Fund who helped to make this trip possible.
Image credit: Sofia Tansey
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