Rome, the city of history, the city of art, the city of Christianity. Imagine yourself singing in this perfect scenario, with centuries of art and culture all around you. Imagine meeting other singers and music lovers from all over the world in a city that has been the cradle of civilization. Imagine combining the emotions of a musical performance with an all-round artistic experience. Can you think of a better place for a music festival? Well, we couldn’t. That is why we planned the International Sacred Music Choir Festival.

Dear Choirmasters, Choristers and Friends of choral music, it is with great joy that I invite you and your choir to the beautiful City of Rome for the V International Sacred Music Choir Festival which will be held July 17th – 20th, 2009. You will have the unique opportunity to sing in the most beautiful Roman Basilicas and Churches, and perform during the Holy Mass in St. Peter's Basilica or other Roman churches.

Last but not least, you will take part in the marvellous Choir parade and/or in open air concerts in the streets of the Eternal City. For further details, please contact the Festival Secretariat which will be glad to answer all your queries.

We hope, dear choir conductors and singers, that you will take part in our festival and take this unique chance to meet other choirs from all over the world in the most beautiful possible setting. Looking forward to meeting you in Rome and having a wonderful time together, we remain with best regards.

Sen. Dr. Dr. h.c. Hans-Albert Courtial President and Founder	Mons. Valentino Miserachs Grau Rector of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music	Mons. Pablo Colino Emeritus Director of Music of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican

July 2008: Choirs from all over the world have taken part in the IV edition of the Festival. The Opening Concert held in the beautiful basilica of S. Ignazio was attended by a huge audience: each choir performed the best songs of their repertoire. The result was an unforgettable concert. In the evening the choirs dined in a typical Roman restaurant.

In the afternoon the choirs performed individual concerts. Two choirs from Greece and the choir from Cyprus played in the lovely town of Nemi, 30 km from Rome, before local authorities and a vast audience of locals and choral music lovers. After the concert, the choirs were invited to a dinner party of traditional dishes offered by the Municipality of Nemi.

The following day in the morning, all choirs, wearing their traditional costumes, paraded along the lovely side streets of the well-known Pantheon area. The parade started in the beautiful archaeological site of Largo Argentina. They then moved to the beautiful square of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva where, before the impressive Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, they sang together the “Gaude Mater Poloniae”. The parade ended in the Pantheon square, where the choir sang before a crowd of tourists and Romans. On Sunday the choirs sang during the holy mass in the Basilica of St Peter and Saint Mary Major. The Italian Charlie’s Gospel Angels sang beautifully during the Mass of the American Community in Rome, at the Basilica of Santa Susanna. After the mass, the choir gave a great concert.

In the afternoon the choirs from Romania and Austria moved to Poggio Mirteto, a lovely town in the Sabina area where they gave a concert in the beautiful central square, one of the nicest spots in the Capital sorroundings. The local authority offered the choirs a dinner at the end of the concert.

Choirs had the unique chance to sing during the Mass in St Peter’s Basilica: an unforgettable experience they will keep in their heart for the rest of their lives.

Following last year’s great success, we gladly announce the V edition of the Festival. For further details please have a look at the program below.

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM

Friday, July 17th
Afternoon: meeting with all the choir conductors. Welcome by the organizer of the Festival. Each conductor will make a short introduction of each choir. The staff will review the whole program of the Festival and will be at choir disposal for any kind of question.

Evening: Inaugural Concert with all the choirs in the basilica of S. Ignazio with its classical baroque style it is probably the most beautiful among all Roman basilicas. The most characterizing elements of the S. Ignazio Basilica are the brightness, the acoustics and the invitation to devotion. When the sun shines, the lines, the arches, the columns and the cornices become a brilliant escape from classical schemes and transmit an harmonious movement; the vault, with its breathless beauty and richness of characters, colours, movements and games of light and shade which brighten the chiaroscuro of the nave, strengthens the magnificence of the whole.

Night: on request, possibility for the choirs to have a dinner all together. Choirs will have the chance to meet and this will be the perfect occasion to mingle and to learn from each other’ experiences during an informal venue. The dinner will take place in a typical Roman restaurant: choirs will be able to taste the delicious Italian food and in this contest, every choir will sing some of the most beautiful songs of their repertoire.

Saturday, July 18th
Morning: choir parade/opening air concert in the enchanting streets of the Eternal City: choirs, wearing typical costumes of their countries, will sing in the open air in some suggestive spots of the historical centre of Rome crowded with Romans and tourists, who will attended with enthusiasm the beautiful event. Performance by all choirs of the common chant “Gaude Mater Poloniae”.

- Evening: concerts in the charming villages of the Roman countryside. Choirs will visit and sing in one the towns of Nemi, Frascati, Castelgandolfo, etc. located in the Alban Hills (Castelli Romani). The Alban Hills where in the past Roman noble families and Popes had their castles. This is why the region is called Castelli Romani (Roman Castles). On the way to the concert place you will enjoy picturesque villages and small towns, partly built in ancient times, a various landscape, beautiful views and a most refreshing air. Alternatively, the choirs can sing in the beautiful Sabina region, well known for its nature, landscapes and scenery and its rich cultural heritage. The concerts will take place in Poggio Mirteto, lovely town located on top of a hill and overlooking a beautiful valley.

- Night: Some choirs will be singing in the enchanting sea town of Fregene located on the Tyrrhenian Sea surrounded by a blue and warm sea. Fregene is very well known among the Roman people and it is considered the most attractive place near Rome. It will be a unique occasion to sing there and experience the Italian summer life in a lively and cozy location
(Each choir will give an individual concert on either Saturday or Sunday )

Sunday, July 19th
- possibility to participate in the Holy Mass at St. Peter's Basilica the living hearth of Catholic Cristianity with its unique façade (45 meters high) and its enormous dome (136 meters). St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world, overlooks the square that carries the same name that was designed by Bernini and which is surrounded by a colonnade. Magnificence and majesty: this is the sensation that one gets walking up Via della Conciliazione towards Piazza San Pietro.

- Evening: concerts in the charming villages of the Roman countryside. Choirs will visit and sing in one the towns of Nemi, Frascati, Castelgandolfo, etc. located in the Alban Hills (Castelli Romani). The Alban Hills where in the past Roman noble families and Popes had their castles. This is why the region is called Castelli Romani (Roman Castles). On the way to the concert place you will enjoy picturesque villages and small towns, partly built in ancient times, a various landscape, beautiful views and a most refreshing air. Alternatively, the choirs can sing in the beautiful Sabina region, well known for its nature, landscapes and scenery and its rich cultural heritage. The concerts will take place in Poggio Mirteto, lovely town located on top of a hill and overlooking a beautiful valley.

- Night: Some choirs will be singing in the enchanting sea town of Fregene located on the Tyrrhenian Sea surrounded by a blue and warm sea. Fregene is very well known among the Roman people and it is considered the most attractive place near Rome. It will be a unique occasion to sing there and experience the Italian summer life in a lively and cozy location

Monday, July 20th
- morning departure or possibility to extend your stay in Italy visiting Florence, Assisi, Venice etc. where we can organize for you other wonderful concerts.

The organizer reserves the right to make any changes required for technical reasons.