100 Singers from the St. Agnes Cathedral Choirs, under the direction of Michael L. Bower, recently toured Italy, singing in prestigious places, including St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, San Lorenzo in Florence, and St. Mark’s in Venice. The choir was accompanied by another 150 family members and friends. The concerts were performed to standing room only audiences and the choir was requested to sing Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” in the Vatican, where 100s of people continued to gather as it was performed, followed by thunderous applause.

Mr. Bower was pleased with the performances. The touring ensemble was drawn from singers from five different choirs which he directs. “Even after jet-lag, being up at 5:30 AM, and walking in the blazing sun through the Coliseum and the Roman Forum, the groups just stood up and sounded magnificent. Long Island and the Diocese of Rockville Centre were well represented.”

The picture above is from the rehearsal in Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome. This church pre-dates St. Peter’s Basilica and two popes were invested here. It contains a famous fresco and a sculpture of Michelangelo.