Before the start of the spring semester, 24 Benedictine College students took a break from their daily lives and spent the first week of the new year traveling to Italy, singing in various churches, monasteries, and venues.

The Benedictine Chamber Singers travel to Italy every three years, providing culturally rich experiences and once-in-a-lifetime musical opportunities.

“What we always try to do is find great experiences for our students here,” said Dr. Timothy Talalson, director of choral activities at the university. “Usually what we do a lot is sing a lot.”

The first thing the choir did on its arrival was to sing the Solemn Mass of Mary, Mother of God, in the Pontifical Basilica of St. Paul, outside the city walls. Their next singing gig was Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

Andrew Lerner, a sophomore majoring in journalism and mass communications, shared his experiences performing with the choir and sightseeing.

His favorite performance was singing Victoria’s “O Magnum Mysterium” at Palestrina.

The contrast of singing this song in a small church after singing it in so many large churches was significant. “At Palestrina, it was the first time I was able to hear other people’s voices in relation to my own,” Lerner said.

The choir includes Dr. Talalson’s original works as well as Palestrina’sShikat Kerbas”, songs that they could sing in the church where the composer worked 5000 years ago, various Christmas songs, and Arvo PahArranged by rtNunc Dimitis”

Tararalson’s favorite part of the trip was the performance at the Basilica of Sancta Trinitas in Florence.

The concert was “a huge success and the kids sang incredibly,” Talalson said. “It was one of the highlights of the tour.”

While singing was a major part of the trip, the choristers were also given the opportunity to explore different parts of Italy, including Rome, Florence and Assisi, before concluding their trip in Norcia. There they sang vespers with the monastery’s Benedictine monks, many of whom were American.

Students went on a variety of tours, tasted food, and even had the opportunity to meet the Pope.

“This will allow our students to visit amazing places across Italy, sing songs and share in even more places the gifts they have worked so hard for here,” Talalson said.