The Mass of the Americas: The After Conference

Cosponsored by The Benedict XVI Institute for Sacred Music and Divine Worship and The Catholic University of America’s Rome School of Music, Drama and Art

THIS INCLUDES YOUR RSVP FOR THE MASS OF THE AMERICAS, NO NEED TO REGISTER FOR BOTH EVENTS. IF YOU ONLY WANT TO ATTEND THE MASS, CLICK HERE.

2:00- 3:15 p.m. Keynote: The Making of the Mass of the Americas: A Conversation with Composer Frank La Rocca, Conductor Richard Sparks, and Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone

Moderator: Jacqueline Leary-Warsaw, Dean of CUA’s Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art.

3:30-5 p.m. Three Workshops with the Masters: Poetry, Singing, Painting

1. Craft as Soul Craft: A Poetry Reading and Workshop with James Matthew Wilson: Come and share poetry with the man Dana Gioia calls “the Future of Catholic Letters in America.” James Matthew Wilson is an award-winning poet, poetry editor of Modern Age, distinguished scholar/philosopher of art, and Villanova professor. His latest book is The River of the Immaculate Conception, a song cycle commemorating the Mass of the Americas.
2. A Master Class with Richard Sparks for CUA Choir Members (restricted entry: to request attendance, email Maggie1960Gallagher@gmail.com): Location: John Paul Rehearsal Hall in Rome Schools of Music building.Richard Sparks is the principal conductor of “The Benedict Sixteen,” the Benedict XVI Institute’s sixteen-voice professional choir. He founded Seattle Pro Musica, was the principal conductor of the Pacific Northwest Bach Festival, led the Choir of the West from 1983-2001, and conducted the Seattle Symphony Chorale for nine recordings on the Delos label including a Grammy-nominated recording of Hanson’s Lament for Beowulf. Sparks was invited to work with the famed Swedish Radio Choir in 2002, 2007 and 2008, including preparing the Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem for a performance with Valery Gergiev and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, which is on DVD with BIS Records. Richard Spark’s latest book, The Conductor’s Toolbox: Transforming Yourself as Musician and Conductor, can be found at GIA Music. [Approximately one-hour]
3. Painting Beauty: A Workshop with Andrew de Sa: Grab some paint and watch and learn as one of the finest young sacred artists teaches a hands-on workshop in painting. Bring your paints and canvas or use ours!Andrew de Sa is a classically trained painter in the Boston School tradition under master painter Paul Ingbretson. His paintings were finalists both at the 89th National Exhibition of the American Artists Professional League and the 84th International Exhibition of Fine Art in the Miniature. He serves as an Arts Ambassador for The Catholic University of America and on the Benedict XVI Council for Liturgy and the Arts.

5:15-6:30 p.m. The Vision of the Soul: A Conversation with Artists and Philosophers of Art

James Matthew Wilson, poet, Villanova University

Prof. Robert Edward Gordon, The American Culture and Ideas Initiative, College of Fine Arts, University of Arizona

Prof. Sara Pecknold, clinical professor of Sacred Music, Catholic University of America

Andrew de Sa, painter

6:30 to 7 p.m. Book Signing: The River of the Immaculate Conception with poet James Matthew Wilson

THIS INCLUDES YOUR RSVP FOR THE MASS OF THE AMERICAS, NO NEED TO REGISTER FOR BOTH EVENTS. IF YOU ONLY WANT TO ATTEND THE MASS, CLICK HERE.

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