May 18 - Andrew Contreras, Annie Stanger & Peyton McKenny

Hello Everyone!

This past week has truly been full of fun and exciting moments, and it really makes me sad to know that this is my last tour with GU Chamber Chorus, but it really allowed me to look back at my time at the place where I truly found myself.

Today, we had the pleasure to perform at the LGBTQ+ Anti-discrimination concert along with 4 other choirs from around Florence. Although I did not understand really what they were saying while making introductions, I was able to receive their message and support for their community through their music. With only 120 seats in the concert hall, and over 500 people who attended, it was evident that the community wanted to come together to support a loving, vibrant community that makes up the heart of Florence and their beautiful city. Once GU Chamber Choir arrived on stage, we were received with cheers, smiles, and love from the whole audience. They were all excited to see us, and I couldn't help but look at their faces to see pure joy as we shared our music together. This brought me back to my first time singing with the choir. I have never felt so much joy and love not only being on stage, but sharing music with the people who need it. The sincere gratitude that I felt today brought me back to that moment. We have the power to share our music with the world and be a voice for people who need it, and this joy was evident today through all of genuine, loving people of Florence.

Sincerely,

- Acon

Hello, friends and family!

This trip has already had so many wonderful, thrilling moments, and today’s experiences have been especially delightful.

After a leisurely morning, we went to the Army Barracks to rehearse with the orchestra and dancers all together for the first time with Alec Roth present. It was so fun to see all elements of the performance come together and share them all with the composer. I loved singing the Spring solos for him! I made sure to meet him after the rehearsal and thank him for writing the music; I love singing the soprano solos he wrote in this work, and I wanted him to know that.

Later in the evening, we went to the LGBTQ+ Anti-Discrimination concert, where we heard and sang with 4 Florentine choirs. The other singers were so friendly, warm, and talented. As we were singing for the full audience and Italian choristers, I kept thinking about how lucky we were to perform in such a gorgeous city for people who work for justice and peace among all peoples, just as we do. I’m so grateful that music grants me the opportunity to come together with people who share the same fundamental beliefs that I do, regardless of the countries we live in and the languages we speak. We all speak the language of music, and therefore we all share a connection.

I’m loving it here in Florence. The food is delicious, the people are kind, and many ordinary things we have at home look especially beautiful. This is a hard time for me, as this is the last event I will experience as a member of GU Choirs, but being with my best friends in this beautiful place makes it all a bit easier.

With love,

- Annie Stanger

The day started off perfectly with hiking up to the top of the Duomo. We walked with our new friend Elena and it was her first time to go to the top of the cathedral as well. Today was a bit rainy so we all wore our rain jackets and brought our umbrellas. We went to the top and saw the most amazing view of all of Florence. The rooftops are all matching red. So far this view has been my favorite part of the trip. We took a group picture and lots of other pictures and then headed down where we had some free time to explore the city while we walked back to the Pensione for lunch. After lunch we had rehearsal in the Army base. This rehearsal went well for the dancers in my opinion. The mood of the room was positive and it was the first time that the composer Alec Roth saw it. (He told the dancers later at lunch the next day that the dance brought a whole other level to the show especially because he had never seen his music be danced and choreographed to before. He said that dancers are amazing because we have to internalize and retain all of our choreography. He also said that he was going to start trying to get more dancers to perform to it because you could pretty much do an entire ballet!) After that I went to dinner with some of the other dancers and we went to a really nice and fun restaurant. We ordered wine and when I went to taste it in front of the waiter there was a fly in my glass! So he brought us a new bottle and we laughed because the fly reminded us of Kalleigh's roll in a new season. I had an amazing pasta dish that came with an entire lobster. We also had desert including a chocolate cake that was super good.

- Peyton McKenny