PHOTO: Students rehearse in Holy Peace Chapel at Mt. Irenaeus during a recent retreat.

St. Bonaventure University’s Chamber Singers prepared for a Nov. 12 concert on campus by embarking on an overnight retreat at Mt. Irenaeus, the community of Franciscan friars in nearby Allegany County.

“It was a rewarding and wonderful experience for all involved,” said Dr. Brian Stevens, adjunct instructor of music and Chamber Singers director. “Students engaged with friars in guided meditation and discussion on topics such as vocation in music, the importance of community, purpose and process, and mindfulness in our lives. They also were able follow each discussion with a rehearsal in the beautiful chapel, connecting with their repertoire in new ways in a serene space surrounded by nature.”

Students helped prepare Saturday dinner, which was followed by an evening of conversation, fun and games, Stevens said. On Sunday, choir members served as music leaders for morning Mass, performing some of their music for the upcoming concert on campus. They also performed music for the liturgy composed for the friars at Mt. Irenaeus by local composer Glenn McClure.

“It was an enriching event that we hope to repeat in the future in order to foster growth and joy in our choir community,” Stevens said.

The SBU Chamber Singers and Concert Choir, both directed by Stevens, will perform in concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12, in Rigas Theater of the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. They will present a variety of classic and modern works for large and small choral ensembles.

 

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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure University is a community committed to transforming the lives of our students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a lifelong commitment to service and citizenship. Out of 167 regional universities in the North, St. Bonaventure was ranked #6 for value and #14 for innovation by U.S. News and World Report (2024).