Posting here too. This thread will serve as our public discussion forum.

If anyone has not yet contacting me about their interest, please do so at moconnor09 @ gmail . com

Let me wish you all a happy and blessed new year that features lots of chant
and polyphony. I'd like to take a moment and officially kick off the
organization of a CMAA choir trip to Rome in the late spring of 2011. First,
let me remind you that I have no official standing in the CMAA but I am
happy that the more visible folks in the organization are willing to let me
use the name of the organization for at least this recruiting drive.
Needless to say I am very excited about going to the holy city to sing the
chant and some of the polyphonic treasures of our church. Thanks to all of
you who have sent suggestions and advice. Trust me, I do appreciate and
welcome it.



The first order of business is to assemble a working group that will lay the
groundwork for our expedition. In order to make things proceed as smoothly
as possible, I will serve as principal "ringleader" for lack of a better
title. I will take on the responsibility of making the final decisions, but
only after getting valuable input and sage advice from the group. From the
email responses I got, it was not always clear who was willing to serve on
this working group, so please let me know if you would like to help. No one
will get stuck with more than they can manage, but it will help me a lot to
have some others on the job.



So, our first priorities will be the following questions. Please feel free
to advise and offer any expertise or experience you might have.



I. When to go? - The time when most people (especially church musicians) are
free is after school lets out. However, costs rise for travel precipitously
after Memorial Day. An airfare of $750 can go to $1500 overnight on May 25.
The other option is just after Christmas. Travel is much less expensive and
there are several great feast days in early January. Usually church
musicians take off for a few weeks anyway. The only real drawback is
unpredictable weather up north and Rome is also quite cold in January. Those
17th-c churches are not exactly climate controlled! So, let me know your
thoughts and I'll make an executive decision soon.

II. Where to go? - Of course we should make sure we sing at St Peter's
basilica, but I'd really like to see if we can get into some interesting
spaces (medieval, Renaissance and the ubiquitous 17th century churches).
Also, do we want to limit to Rome? I went last summer and can tell you that
I didn't see everything I wanted to, but I do want to go to Assisi if at all
possible or other towns in the area. This brings us up the issue of using a
tour agency like Peter's Way. I've heard both good and less than good about
them, but they certainly seem to have connections. If anyone has connections
over there that might be better for a group like ours, please let me know.

III. Who should conduct? There are several good choices, but we would have
to find a way to raise money for any of them. Being spread out like we are,
I'm not sure how that would work. It would be a shame not have one of the
big names leading us, but we're not willing to build their fee and travel
into our own costs, then we might need to elect one of those who is going.
Again, let me know your thoughts.

IV. Recruiting - We need to make sure that this group is a good ensemble. As
much as I'd like to go with anyone who wants to, we want to present the CMAA
in the best light. We don't need to be King's Singers, but we need to make
sure we have at least 3 solid singers on a part (for 4 part polyphony). I'm
thinking the level should be semi-professional since we will have such
restricted rehearsal time. So, let's talk to our friends and fellow CMAA
members and see what we can do.

V. Repertoire - Here I will take suggestions, but I will want to consult
with the chosen conductor before setting anything in stone. My hope is to
sing a Sunday Mass and Vespers over there and have a few more pieces to add
for a concert somewhere. That should be plenty for about a 10 day trip.

Well, I'm looking forward to this. I know it will be a lot of work, but it
sure seems worth it. I'm only a little concerned about my inexperience in
putting tours together. I hope you can help with this.

Felix sit annus novus!

Michael O'Connor

Michael, this is quite an undertaking! Best wishes! Last year about this time, Gary Penkala took his choir at St. James the Greater Church in Charles Town, WV, on a singing tour of Italy. I am sure he would have useful information for you as to places, tour company, etc. You can reach him at his publishing address, gpenkala@canticanova.com or at the church, liturgy@stjames.org

Michael, Peter's Way always offers one free or two half/price for every so many people signed up- cant remember if it's 10 or 20- prolly 20. So there is some room there for 'hardships' if necessary- I wouldn't think it would matter where we were in the country? The other way to raise some extra $$ easily is to invite non-singers to join us and charge them more. We did that, raised an enormous amt of $$$ along with a couiple of Rummage Sales.

Donna

You know, publicizing this outside of the group might attract chant groupies who would be interested in the trip.

Charge a higher fee to the groupies to assist those who might like to attend but are under vows of poverty...I was thinking of people who love chant and do not sing who might want to be part of an historic event like this.

I am proposing this trip to a schola of 8 young singers, all of whom would be a great addition.

And, Michael, if I may, I propose that your excellent idea be renamed and be the CMAA Pilgrimage To Rome.

Fr Pierre Paul has suggested two companies that we are investigating right now. Neither is PW, which he seems to not like. Will report when my correspondents come back with info.

Frogman, yes of course, let's take as many as would like to come. This could be good evangelizing for our cause too. I like the name, but would have to think about whether it might be misleading. I don't know if I have to time and talent to organize "pilgrimage" activities too.

That is awesome and very exciting news!

Assuming you're referring to me…I'm not sure. There's a lot of work I would need to get accomplished here before committing to such a trip.

But know that I would love to. :)

Greetings,

Things are moving along quite well now. Wilko is very thrilled to be putting together the artistic end of things.

Let me remind everyone that EVERYONE in the CMAA (and friends) is invited to come along. You don't need to sing in the choir to be part of the excursion. The more we get, the cheaper it will be.

We still have need for singers. We'd like to reach the 28 mark by the time we have to commit to an agency, if we use one. Again, the level of ability will need to be pretty good since rehearsal time will be minimal. Don't count yourself out if you are a good singer, but are just modest ;-) You can send us a short recording and Wilko will very charitably assess whether you might struggle with the material. This will not be an "uber-professional" group, but a group of good singers who will represent the CMAA very well. I'm thinking that the group that was selected for the colloquium "select" group back in DC is a good comparison. Wilko and I are discussing the balance between representation of the organization and the need for quality for singing at St Peter's. Things have changed in the last couple of years, where not every group that wanders into the city sings there. This is a good thing!

So, think about what a possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity this is and contact me about your interest if you have not done so already. This is also an opportunity to promote the CMAA by talking to your singer friends and suggesting that they also think about this.

Ciao

Mike,
Could you email me off forum?
cculbreth (at) tccov (dot) org
Thanks,
Charles

Hi all,

We've not completely decided to ask for recordings just yet. If so, it would be a couple of short fragments chosen by Wilko. I'll let you know.

Mia, looks like May 2011.

I would love to go, I'm a Bass (low D to E above middle C). May sounds wonderful. I went for a week in March in 2007, that was nice too.

More names coming in every day. The Lord is blessing this pilgrimage! Folks, if we get enough we'll send out choirs all over Rome!

.

I would be interested in attending, and also in coordinating any way that I can. I speak fluent Italian (maiden name is Massimo) which may come in handy. I have over 10 years experience coordinating travel logistics for executives. Send me an email amanda.palister@yahoo.com.

Mandee

Sent! You're welcome and looking forward to working with you.

Mandee

Just a reminder here to get those recordings done for Wilko. He is taking the Vatican's request that all visiting choirs be of sufficient quality to handle what is required of them. The recordings are his only means of being sure we bring folks who can handle the music and blend with each other. That said, please don't think you have to be a professional singer to do this trip. He is looking for good pitch and a pretty good singing tone. Heavy vibrato will be an issue, so if you cannot sing without it, this might not be the trip for you. So, go ahead and make those recordings. We are hoping to bring 30 with us.

BTW if you would like to go, but feel that your voice might not be at the level Wilko is looking for, we encourage you to join us anyway. Singing in the choir is not a requirement for coming on this pilgrimage. You will hear a fine group of American CMAA singers providing the music for Mass and Vespers in some of the most beautiful churches in Rome and (maybe) Assisi.

Best,
Michael O'Connor
CMAA Pilgrimage to Rome Coordinator
moconnor09 @ gmail . com

The best quote I have so far is $1300 before airfare. The agency claims that monastic accommodation costs as much as 4-star hotels. They do provide transportation, which is a plus, and set up quite a bit on site. Attached is a proposed itinerary from an agency suggested by Fr Pierre Paul (one of 2 agencies, actually). The cost seems very good and the benefits are outstanding. We just need to be able to provide them numbers soon. I would be willing to hear your comments on this. We'll need to move on it pretty soon, I think.

Note: I tried to attach this but I keep getting this message:


Some problems were encountered
The file you attempted to upload (R2809 ITINERARY-TOURFARE-REMARKS - 110210.pdf) was of type "application/download", but the file extension "pdf" did not match the accepted extensions for this type of file: rar, RAR

Thanks, Michael.

Michael,

Is that rate for single or double occupancy. Who is the tour guide? I can't find the provider based on the info above. We will be able to get more info at the colloquium XX?

Has there been any consideration to allowing less experienced singers to work just the ordinaries?

Thanks,

David

OK. I just needed to use MS IE... Please read and send me your thoughts.

Thanks, I'll try to find out if that can happen.

We'll have to work that out, but the transportation issue will partially decide that.

Right now I am trying to decide if we should go with the monastic accommodations. I think most of us would like the idea, but if enough don't want to be in that situation, we'll go secular. Donna is right. We should be at the same place or in adjacent lodgings if at all possible. Too big of a chance of someone missing a bus.

I am at the age where I hate sharing a bathroom, but really hotel or Monastic makes not much difference b/c you'uns are hardly in the room except to sleep

Donna