Friday - The Gala Concert

The Gala concert was held at St. Paul's Outside the Walls.

Vairious Madrigals got their picture with Sir David Willcocks.

The bus ride back to the hotel.

Thursday - Concerts!

The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

The Pantheon

Discussing the possibility of a cultural exchange program with the Kenyan choir.

An impromptu street rap

Cindy's set list

We've seen many of these. Italian road kill.

We had a most wonderful dinner complete with a group of musicians. The madrigals were quick to join in on the tunes they knew... and even the ones they didn't.










The Madrigals then sang for the musicians and everyone else

Wednesday - Papal Audience in Piazza San Pietro

On the bus ride to the Vatican, while driving past the ruins of ancient Rome, we were lead in a devotion by Art Hill.



Once at the Vatican, we found our seats outside of the Basilica and sat with the other U.S. church groups participating in the ICMF tour. This was a great time to take some shots of the group.

Paul Leddington Wright, one of the festival conductors, directed the group's performance.

The pope arrived in a convertible “Pope Mobile” and was driven around through the crowd and eventually up the steps to St. Peters.










These guys just stood at attention for the two hour service in these uniforms













The pope sat alone and did the Wednesday morning service.

The service was in Italian. However groups of pilgrims and visitors were announced for many different countries in the native language of the country. Apparently, when a group is acknowledged, it may acknowledge its presence via some type of response or performance—either a song, a dance, or just a loud scream. Our group was the only one that sang. All the others would respond with loud cheers. If the pope heard your group, he would raise his arms to acknowledge the group being announced.

When the ICMF group was being announced, a G was given via various pitch pipes throughout the group. The group stood and delivered it’s song. The crowd clapped and the pope acknowledged the group.

Upon returning to the hotel, the group spent time getting lunch, visiting sites...

... and shopping!

Dinner was at the hotel.

After dinner, we boarded the bus to a church for the international concert of ICMF choirs. I didn't get any shots of them :(

Tuesday - Vatican Tour, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica

Looking up at the dome. We're going up there!!

This is looking down from the dome at a service being conducted.





















This is the Piazza San Pietro - where the papal audience will be












View of Rome from the St. Peter's dome - The white building is nick named the wedding cake. It's where the unknown soldier is burried. To the right of it is the Coliseum.

This is at the monument at the Piazza San Pietro

Back at the hotel

We had dinner at a local restaurant by the hotel. After that we took a night tour to a fountain -- not sure what the name of it is.

I think this has some reference to a romantic movie--but I don't know what it is.











... or is it this one?

Monday

We started out this morning adjusting to the jet lag and were welcomed by an amazing breakfast at the Grand Hotel Palatino—completely different form any breakfast you might get at a Days Inn from the states. The Breakfast was complete with fresh mango juice and bruchetta with Swiss cheese as well as bacon and fresh eggs. After a leisurely Italian style breakfast, we boarded the bus and were given a detailed tour of the Coliseum and the Forum—with the help of our Whisper devices which are individual ear pieces that our tour guide speaks into through her microphone.

After the short trip back to our hotel, we were given time to go out and get lunch which most of us used to either take a nap or go out and get some pizza. Around 4:00, we went to St. Paul’s Outside the Walls where we were given a welcome church service inside the spectacular cathedral. After that, we boarded the bus again towards the welcome banquette at the Sheraton Hotel.

The welcome banquet proved to be an inspiring event where we got to experience different cultures while continuing to absorb the culture of Roma!
-Posted by Hunter

The Coliseum, The Roman Forum, St. Paul's Outside The Walls

The Coliseum!
The Coliseum was once coverred in marble. The holes you see in the walls were the anchor points where the marble was attached.

The AACS Madrigal Gladiators

You may have assumed that the Coliseum is not fully intact due to its age. In fact the parts that are missing are gone because the Coliseum was later used as a quarry. Half of the outer ring is missing because it was dismantled and used to build other buildings. It wasn't until the 19th century that it was decided it might be a good idea to preserve it.










This plaque was installed by a pope to commemorate the Christians that were killed in the Coliseum.

This shot was taken on an ancient Roman road that is over two thousand years old.












The Roman Forum

St. Paul's Outside The Walls

Pictures from Saturday - Sunday

Leaving BWI for JFK

We arrive in Rome!