The Martha’s Vineyard Minnesingers left for Milan, Italy, on Sunday, April 16.
Minnesinger director Janis Wightman shared the group’s itinerary, beginning with their arrival in Milan. The young singers will start off by visiting La Scala, the Duomo, and other sites in Milan, performing informal concerts along the way.
They’ll take their traditional boat ride at Lake Garda, and then move on to Verona, where they’ll attend some of the Verona International Choral Competition concerts and perform some of their own informal concerts. A Friendship Concert with the San Zeno and Costermano choirs is scheduled while the group is in Verona. They travel to Caserma Ederle in Vicenza, one of the U.S. Army garrisons in Italy, and will be performing for the high school students on the base.
The last stop for the Minnesingers is Venice. “In addition to some sightseeing and a gondola ride, the Minnesingers will be participating in the Mass at St. Mark’s Cathedral,” Ms. Wightman said. “Needless to say, this will be a highlight of our performance trip. Throughout the trip, there are many opportunities for the kids to perform in casual settings. The repertoire is chosen to allow for a cappella, spontaneous singing.”
The Minnesingers return on Tuesday, April 25.