May 21 - Maddie Dellinger & Carlos Andres Vazquez Baur

Hello all from Florence! We have had an amazing past week here and I can't believe how quickly it has flown by. We have spent so much time exploring this ancient city while cultivating new relationships. Today after months of rehearsal as a choir along with the dance ensemble and several days of intense rehearsal with the Conservatory of Florence chamber orchestra we performed Alec Roth's "A Time to Dance". Not only did we perform this work within the historic Pergola theater (where Verdi's Macbeth was debuted) we performed the piece for the composer Alec Roth himself. This evening was truly embodied the term collaboration, as musicians, dancers, conductors, and the composer came together to create an evening full of excellent music making that left us all grateful for this experience. As cliché as it may sound this past week's experiences have been truly remarkable and allowed for not only the creation of beautiful music but also that of great relationships that will hopefully continue into the future. As a recent graduate I am so grateful that this is how I can end my time with Gonzaga's choir program and for the opportunity to spend more time with my peers before we have to say goodbye.

Ciao!

- Maddie Dellinger

Since I have been here, I have been trying to make a concerted effort to try and really experience the city. As a result, I have just started every day with a cappuccino at a different café around the city and today, I walked over to the café San Marco and then went walking to the Sancta Ambrogia Market with Anna where we browsed through the stands. From there, we walked over to a leather market and then to a bunch of different piazzas immersed in the history and beauty of this incredible city. As I return, I was graced with everyone singing me happy birthday the pensione before lunch. From there, we packed and prepped to go to the Pergola theater to perform. I got to say hi to all of the Florentine musicians that I have met along the way and after we ran our dress rehearsal, we got to sit and talk with some of the other performers. One of the coolest things that I have noticed is that with my medium level Spanish skills, I am able to converse with many of the other musicians that cannot speak English (this has also been a tool for getting around most of the city). When the tension was rising for the show, I got to think about how I get to spend my 22nd birthday singing in one of the oldest operating theaters in Europe with a transatlantic company of performers and with the composer in the audience and having spoken to him about everything from my hometown of Santa Fe to his hometown soccer club (Manchester United) doing this thing that I love so much. One of the best parts was that as the show ended, I walked out of the performers exit and most of the orchestra members were waiting there and they ambushed me with a very loud rendition of happy birthday while standing in the street. What was so touching about this was that there weren't any Gonzaga students in that mix and they did it of their own volition which shows to be a testament to the power that art has to help unite us in every way. When I am older and have children and they ask what my best birthday was, I am going to be able to look at them and tell them this story with so much love and reverence that I hope I can inspire them to follow the music that is in their hearts (cheesy, I know). I am looking forward to what is to come on the next chapter of our fantastic trip.

Buona Sera,

- Carlos Andres Vazquez Baur