FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com OCTOBER 13, 2016 • THE COURIER SUN 41 SAVE THE DATE Join us for our 12th annual fundraiser showcasing Long Island's best restaurants, bakeries and wineries. MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016 6:30 - 9:30PM The Carltun Eisenhower Park 1899 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow, NY 11554 $90 per person Benefiting The Cancer Center for Kids at Winthrop University Hospital, the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program at Stonybrook Hospital and other pediatric specialty programs The Michael Magro Foundation (516) 935-4510 12 Julian Street, Hickville, NY 11801 (516) 935-4510 www.michaelmagrofoundation.com MMagroFoundation KEIGWIN + COMPANY “Dance that hits your pleasure receptors” - The New Yorker October 22 - 23 Saturday 2pm & 8pm Sunday 3pm Tickets from $25 www.queenstheatre.org Box Office: 718.760.0064 ST. FRANCIS PREP STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND ALUMNI TRAVEL TO HOME OF THEIR PATRON, ST. FRANCIS On Thursday, June 30th, 86 members of the St. Francis Prep community – students, faculty, parents, alumni, and even parishioners from American Martyrs Church in Bayside – boarded buses to Newark Airport to travel to Assisi and Rome, two cities central to the popular saint the school is named after, Francis of Assisi. The trip had two major components to it, the first being a concert tour for Prep’s Jazz Band, Choir, and Chamber Orchestra. In all, there were three performances in Perugia, Lake Trasimeno, and Frascati. In addition to the concerts, the school’s singers, under the direction of Prep alum, David Y. Kobayashi, sang at Sunday Mass in the Upper Basilica of St. Francis, as well as at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Prep is very well known for their Music program, and this is the fifth international trip the school has mounted. When not performing, the group had the opportunity to visit many of the important places and sights, such as the Colisseum and Forum in Rome, and the Basilicas of St. Francis and St. Clare in Assisi. And of course, the opportunity Students, faculty, parents, alumni, and parishioners from American Martyrs Church in Bayside at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi to experience real Italian food was a high point for all, with gelato being everyone’s favorite! The other component of the trip was a religious pilgrimage for parents, alumni, and local parishioners. This was the brainchild of Prep’s Chaplain Emeritus, Fr. William Sweeney. The idea was that pilgrims could travel with Prep’s Music department and share in and enjoy the gifts and talents of the students, but have their own unique experiences, such as a visit to the Vatican Gardens, Mt. La Verna (where St. Francis received the stigmata, or the wounds of Christ), and the opportunity to process through the Holy Doors of St. Peter’s Basilica. In all, the trip took two years to plan and Prep worked in conjunction with Worldstrides Onstage. For former student, now faculty member Beatrice Söderberg, this was yet another special opportunity provided by Prep’s Music department. When she was a senior, Prep’s Chamber Orchestra performed for His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI on what was his only visit to America. “As a graduate from and teacher at a Catholic high school in the Franciscan tradition, traveling to Italy was a deeply impactful experience. The days we spent in Assisi, however, were particularly extraordinary; bringing the musical gifts of our students to the birthplace of our patron saint was a true blessing. During our stay in Assisi, I was invited to play the organ for mass at Saint Francis Basilica. It was a once-ina lifetime opportunity I will never forget and will always remember dearly. When I was a student, I know that each music student in my graduating class would have marveled at the opportunity to tour internationally. That the department now takes bi-annual international tours is a testament to the expansion and demand of the music program at Saint Francis Prep. Performing alongside outstanding students throughout Italy was momentous and unforgettable!” Recently graduated from Prep, Joseph Barbieri performed with all three touring ensembles. He also participated in our 2014 London tour. Joe even had the privilege of presenting the world premiere of an original composition of his. According to Joe, “both music tours were fantastic, and they were some of the best experiences that I’ve had in my life. Being able to travel with many close friends that I have made over my years at Prep was very special. Also, being able to perform and conduct my original composition in Italy made this tour more special to me than the last one. When the possibility to compose a piece became a reality I was honestly overjoyed, as being able to hear a piece of music you write come alive is an amazing feeling. Finally, just being able to do what I love with many great friends on this tour was a great way to close the chapter of high school in my life.” Dr. Robert Corbino just celebrated his 40th year at Prep. He is universaly considered the architect of one of the city’s, if not country’s, great Music programs. When asked to reflect on the tour, he said, “I am very pleased that the music department could provide such a great experience for the students who participate in the department’s performing ensembles. In addition, it shows me that the performance level within these ensembles is high enough to warrant concerts in foreign countries. This trip in particular was very important to me because it brought us back to Assisi, the very reason our school exists. In my opinion, there could be no better way to experience Francis of Assisi, than walking in his own footsteps, seeing what he saw, and looking at the primary sources. WOW! I look forward to a continued growth of musical excellence. Each foreign trip seems to produce a higher level of musical performance. Most of all, I loved the way that the students in all three ensembles truly showed a certain spirit of friendship, faith, and love. This spirit that I speak of was the most important feature that I will always remember.” For more information, please contact: Dr. Robert Corbino, Chairperson of Music at (718) 423- 8810, x255, or rcorbino@sfponline.org, or Robert Johnston, Tour Director at (718) 423-8810, x255, or rjohnston@sfponline.org
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