Coro San Giovanni Battista Città di Cassino - Codice Fiscale per donare il 5*1000: 90007880603

Polyphonic Choir.

Founded in 1989, it has undertaken intense study and concert activity, performing with various orchestras in Italy and abroad. In 2011, it was recognized as a Choir of Municipal and National Interest. In the evocative setting of the Abbey of Montecassino, on the occasion of the 3rd "S. Benedicti" Prize, it performed a concert attended by the ambassadors of Spain and France, and another with the ambassador of Australia. It is twinned with the "Ursuline Academy Choir" of New Orleans (USA), the "Gildo Antonioni" Choir of Norcia (Perugia), the "P. Pio" Choir of Pietrelcina (Benevento), the "Tullio Serafin" Choir of Cavarzere (Ve), the "Choralschola dei SS. Dodici Apostoli" of Berlin (Germany), and others. The Municipality of Cassino is also twinned with many of these choirs, which has allowed the Choir to participate, on site, in concerts organized by the Municipal Administrations involved (Cavarzere, Norcia, Ortona, Berlino). It participated in the 2nd and 5th National Competition of Sacred Choral Singing "P. Angelo Mutterle" in Battipaglia (Bn); in the 17th and 21st National Competition of Sacred Choral Singing in Vallecorsa (Fr) obtaining 3rd place in both editions and in the XXII edition obtaining 2nd place, while at the XXIV edition he placed 1st; at the VI National Singing Competition "P. Settimio Zimarino" in Vasto (Ch); at the I and II National Competition of Sacred Choral Singing in Roccasecca (Fr) - "S. Tommaso d'Aquino" prize - Gold Medal, winning 3rd prize; at the VI International Festival of Avola (Sr), receiving wide acclaim from the artistic direction, and at the III edition of the Interregional Festival of Aversa (Ce) in the presence of the Director of the "Sistine Chapel" of Rome, etc. He has held numerous concerts for the Rotary Club of Cassino and the Lions Club of the Valle di Comino and for the A.B.E. (Association of Children with Hemato-oncology). For the latter Association, the Choir has held several concerts to raise funds for scholarships for young researchers in the field of pediatric oncology, as well as for the purchase of specific laboratory equipment. Numerous concerts have been held for a wide variety of needs: nursing homes, drug addiction centers, fundraisers for the diocesan Caritas, parish centers, etc. In 1995, it was established as the "S. Benedetto" Musical Association. It has performed, among others, Vivaldi's Gloria and Credo, Mozart's Coronation Mass, Mozart's Dixit et Magnificat and Litany of Lauretania, Charpentier's Te Deum, and other works with symphony orchestras and chamber music groups, with the participation of soloists from the Teatro "S. Carlo" in Naples and the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome. Its repertoire also includes a vast program of folk songs from various Italian regions, mountain songs, songs from film soundtracks, and traditional songs from the Cassinate area. In September 2002 the Choir participated in the event L'Italie à sa Place in Paris (FRANCE), representing the Lazio Region, and consequently Italy, as well as the city of Cassino, with a series of concerts of sacred and profane music. In December 2004, the Choir was again invited to Paris (FRANCE) for the Lazio Week, and performed concerts in collaboration with the Liri Quintet. In January 2005, the Choir was invited to perform sacred music concerts in Berlin (GERMANY), in collaboration with the local Choir. On April 24, 2005, the Choir performed at the Holy Mass in the Vatican. In March 2006 and 2007, it participated in the 4th and 5th Day of Prayer with the Pope in the Paul VI Hall in Rome. From April 14 to 18, 2006, it participated in the 1st International Religious Music Festival in Bucharest (ROMANIA), with performances at Bucharest Radio and in the capital's most prestigious theaters. From December 8 to 11, 2006, it participated in the 8th International Advent Song Festival in Prague (CZECH Republic). In November 2007, the choir performed a concert in Recas (Toledo), Spain. In the summer of 2008, it was invited to perform concerts in the Province of Trento. On May 24, 2009, it led the Holy Mass celebrated by the Pope in Cassino, on the occasion of his pastoral visit to the diocese of Montecassino; the Mass was broadcast worldwide(Benedictus XVI). From December 5 to 8, 2009, the choir flew to Budapest, Hungary, for a series of concerts. On December 26, 2009, it performed a highly acclaimed concert dedicated to Mozart, in collaboration with the Musici Lirienses orchestra, supporting the Rotary Club of Cassino's "End Polio Now" campaign. On August 17, 2010, it performed a thematic concert on Boniface Maria Krug, German musician and abbot of Montecassino, in his hometown of Hunfeld, Germany. On November 14, 2010, he held a benefit concert for the Casa della Carità "Gemma De Posis" in Cassino. From March 1 to 4, 2011, he was called to lead the Holy Mass at Westminster Cathedral in London (UK) in the presence of the Archbishop of the city and the Abbot of Montecassino, as well as to perform a concert at the Italian Cultural Institute in London. On March 12, 2011, on the occasion of the arrival of the Benedictine Torch in Norcia, he led the Holy Mass presided over by His Excellency Renato Boccardo, Archbishop of Spoleto-Norcia, and His Excellency Pietro Vittorelli, Archabbot and Ordinary of Montecassino. On March 16, 2011, the choir performed a concert for the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy, receiving recognition from the municipality of Cassino as a "Choir of Municipal Interest." In 2011, the municipality of Cassino approved the choir's designation as a "Choir of Municipal Interest," while the Italian government recognized it as a "Choir of National Interest." On March 3, 2012, in the Hall of the Knights of Malta, during a screening of images of the Cassino area, the choir performed sacred pieces dedicated to St. Benedict. On March 4, in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Valletta, the choir led the Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Malta and presided over by His Excellency Pietro Vittorelli. The day of March 4 concluded with a reception by the Maltese Prime Minister in the Ambassadors' Hall, where the choir performed the Italian and Maltese national anthems. In August 2012, the Choir was invited by the City of Berlin-Zehelendorf (Germany) to perform a concert in the State Hall. On December 29, 2012, it performed M.A. Charpentier's Te Deum in the Salone S. Benedetto of the Abbey of Montecassino. On March 16, 2013, the choir led the Holy Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, on the occasion of the lighting of the Benedictine torch. The Mass was officiated by several Parisian bishops, as well as the Abbot of Montecassino, the Abbot of Norcia, and the Bishop of Norcia. In 2013, the choir was invited to participate in the television program "La canzone di noi" on TV2000. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the destruction of Cassino and Montecassino, it sang in the presence of Prince Henry of England and all the ambassadors of the nations that fought in the Cassino and Montecassino areas. The choir follows the "lunge technique" in its vocal training, with regular workshops with Maestro Delfo Menicucci, singing professor at the "G. Verdi" Conservatory in Milan and former vocal coach of the famous singer Andrea Bocelli. In May 2015, the Choir held a concert celebrating the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, in the presence of the Austrian Ambassador. On December 20, 2015, the Choir won FIRST Prize at the National Choral Singing Competition in Greggio (Rieti). In October 2016, the Choir established the “Antonio Grazio Ferraro” International Choral Competition, which sees the participation of numerous Italian and foreign choirs. On December 18, 2016, it again won FIRST Prize at the National Choral Singing Competition in Greggio (Rieti). In August 2017, the Choir traveled to Krakow, Poland, to perform. On May 26, 2018, it participated in the MayFest Competition in Caserta, winning FIRST Prize overall. On July 10, the Choir performed a concert in Montecassino, performing Schubert's Deutsche Messe accompanied by a wind orchestra composed of students from five American universities. In December 2022, it performed in Spain, performing a concert at Montserrat Abbey and leading the international mass at the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Since its founding, the Choir has been directed by Fulvio Venditti, who, with a degree in Philosophy, completed his piano and organ studies at the renowned Abbey of Montecassino, and participated in a Master's program in organ with Maestro Giancarlo Parodi of the Institute of Sacred Music in Rome. He attended specialization courses in Renaissance and Baroque polyphony for choir directors held by Maestro Giovanni Acciai of the "G. Verdi" Conservatory of Milan and those in Gregorian chant held by Maestro Stefano Concordia of the Order of St. Benedict.