Capping the academy are five public
concerts in beautiful historic venues: Cathedrale St. Sauveur, a
national monument of France dating back to the 12th century; Eglise St.
Esprit, an 18th century cathedral that is one of Frances national
heritage sites; and the Abbaye de Silvacane, a former monastery dating
from the 12th century. The concert repertoire includes works across a
wide repertoire -- from Bach, Handel and Faure to African-American
spirituals and folk songs to standards from the American songbook.
Emily Fareed, a rising sophomore and music major in UDs College of
Arts and Sciences, shared perspective on her experience so far: This
experience has been both magical and unifying. The people participating
in the Choral Academy are not just reading notes on a page; the music
is very special and connects with our hearts and souls. And that
experience is informed by very careful choices the music, the
composers, the meaning and the relevance, all of it comes together in
through an inexplicable connection that is very moving.
Alessandra Alcala, a rising senior at University of Montana, Missoula
who is participating in the program, added, There is honestly nothing
like this experience that was created by the University of Delaware. You
feel the shared purpose of the program as soon as you meet everyone on
the first day. Our best moments are when we are singing to each other,
and the opportunity to do so in France is very liberating. Through every
piece we sing, I discover something new the text, the harmonies, the
composers vision. I came here curious, and I will leave with a renewed
inspiration about my future with a clarity and focus I did not have
before.
Participating in this program in a different country, you wonder if
language will be a barrier, Fareed said. However, we have all quickly
learned that there are no obstacles in speaking or understanding English
or French because music is a universal language, and I have met so many
amazing people who have inspired me.
Head, who is Unidel Distinguished Professor of Music at UD, is
leading the program, whose faculty includes such distinguished musicians
as Richard Bjella, professor emeritus from Texas Tech University; Duane
Cottrell, associate professor of choral studies at UD; and Andrew
Kreckmann, director of choral activities at the Sacramento State
University School of Music.
Article by University of Delaware staff; photos by Chad Zullinger and Glenn Carter