From Summit to the Sistine, New Jerseyans Make History

From Summit to the Sistine, New Jerseyans
make history

The Sistine Chapel is one of the world’s premier
performance venues. It is opening its doors to an American choral group for the
first time in history to present a concert to a VIP audience. No stranger to
the Vatican or Vatican City’s non-profit musical extension, Fondazione Pro
Musica E Arte Sacra, Continuo Arts Founder Candace Wicke was the first woman
conductor to appear on the Fondazione’s annual international festival in Rome
and only the second American, following the great Paul Salamonovich. “To say we
are excited, thrilled and humbled by this unbelievable invitation is a huge
understatement; truly, sometimes there are no words” says Wicke “I don’t know
how to describe the nature and importance of this concert opportunity we have
been given; this won’t happen again!”

On February 13th, singers in the Continuo Arts
Intergenerational Choral Ensembles, members of the national Continuo Arts
Symphonic Chorus and singers from All Saints Princeton will travel to Ireland
with many non-singing music and art aficionados.  Over a hundred strong, concerts will be
presented in Limerick and Dublin with additional stops in Waterford, and
Wicklo. Then it is on to Italy with performances in Assisi, St. Peter’s
Basilica and culminating in the concert experience of a lifetime inside the
Sistine Chapel. Featuring the music of Hollywood Composer Stephen James
Edwards, five movements of his “Requiem for My Mother”, previously premiered in
Carnegie Hall, will be performed.

Attending this private concert will be audience members
comprising VIP guests, Vatican Clergy, and international media. Invited
dignitaries include President and Mrs. Barack Obama, New Jersey Governor Chris
Christie, State Legislatures, the American Ambassador to Italy and of course
Pope Francis himself.  Surrounded by the
world’s great artistic masterpieces everyone present will undoubtedly
experience the transformative power of great music and art while forging
cultural and international exchange at the highest level.

Local music lovers can have a preview of the concert on
February 11th, 7:30 pm at Central Presbyterian Church, 70 Maple
Street, Summit, NJ. The preview is free and open to the public.

 For more
information visit www.continuoarts.com or call 908-264-5324.