The Archdiocesan Chorus — the resident ensemble of the Detroit archbishop — had planned to simply attend the Jan. 6 Epiphany Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica during a 2016 trip.
BalistreriThat is, until the ensemble’s director, Joe Balistreri, sent a recording to the Sistine Chapel Choir’s music director, Msgr. Massimo Palombella.
Balistreri submitted the chorus’ recording of Ottorino Respighi’s Christmas oratorio, “Laud to the Nativity” which had been recorded at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit in December 2013.
Then, on March 13, “I received confirmation that we could sing with the Sistine Choir at Mass and sing the prelude” during next year’s Epiphany Mass with Pope Francis, Balistreri told The Michigan Catholic.
Balistreri credited John Hale, president of Corporate Travel, for encouraging him to send the recording in hopes of potential music opportunities. Balistreri is working with Hale to coordinate the choir’s trip.
“It is not super uncommon, but it’s the highest privilege a diocesan choir can have,” said Balistreri.
Balistreri said the invitation is significant for several reasons.
“For Europe, Epiphany is a big deal,” he said. And usually, when choirs show up to sing at St. Peter’s Basilica for Mass, they usually “bring music and ‘audition’ for Msgr. Palombella” on the spot.
Furthermore, this is the 40-voice chorus’ first trip under Balistreri, 29, who became the director in January 2012 and just recently was named one of the top church organists in the country under the age of 30 by Diapason magazine, an international journal dedicated to church music.
The chorus will accompany the Sistine Chapel Choir, sitting “directly behind the pope, off to the side” along with a few other visiting choirs.
Balistreri said the chorus is considering the trip “more of a pilgrimage than a tour” and has extended an invitation to Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron to join them.
The choir members’ families are also welcome to come, and plans are in the works to extend the “pilgrimage” to all people of the archdiocese.
“People are very excited, though we will have to do a lot of fundraising” to be sure all chorus members will be able to attend, Balistreri said.
Hale told The Michigan Catholic that the opportunity for the chorus and Metro Detroit Catholics alike will be “a transformative experience to draw closer to the heart of the Church and to the heart of Christ.”
“The quality of the Archdiocesan Chorus has been recognized by the Sistine Chapel Choir and this is a tremendous blessing — as well as a reminder to all of us in the Archdiocese of Detroit of the treasure that we have in our midst,” Hale added.
The Archdiocesan Chorus holds annual auditions during Labor Day week and provides music for major diocesan liturgies at the cathedral, including ordinations, bishops’ funerals, the Chrism Mass and Rite of Election celebrations.
The Chorus represents singers of all ages, from teenagers to octogenarians, and represents parishes across the Archdiocese of Detroit.
To find out more about the Archdiocesan Chorus of Detroit, visit www.aod.org/chorus.
