Mayfield Junior School Honors Choir Goes to Italy

Mayfield Junior School’s Honors Choir flew to Italy in late June to participate in a concert tour at select locations throughout Italy.

The concert tour organized through Music Celebrations International took the students to six cities in 10 days. Upon their arrival in Rome the choir attended a papal audience at St. Peter’s Square and toured various historic monuments such as the Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum.

By special invitation, Mayfield’s choir performed for the American Ambassador to Italy, Ambassador Ronald P. Spogli, at the United States diplomatic residence in the heart of Rome.

The choir participated in a morning Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica and visited the Vatican museums before traveling to Florence via Siena.

While in Florence, the choir spent the morning exploring the city stopping to view Michelangelo’s David at the Academy of Fine Arts.

The singers performed informally at the Duomo de Santa Maria Del Fiore before singing for an evening Mass at Santa Maria Novella.

In Venice, the students experienced the city in a walking tour that included St. Mark’s Square, the Doges’ Palace, and St. Mark’s Church and provided music for an evening mass at Santa Maria Formosa Church.

While touring each city, the choir members would often gather in a circle for a spontaneous performance delighting passersby.

One such memorable performance was at the Milan Cathedral (Duomo). The choir’s final concert before returning home was for a Mass at San Lorenzo Maggiore in Milan.

Mayfield Junior School’s Honors Choir is under the direction of Dr. Misha Shtangrud and provides an advanced music program for students in grades 3-8.

In March 2005, the Mayfield Honors Choir was chosen to participate in the National Children’s Choir Festival at Carnegie Hall in New York City.