News

SCC Vocal Ensemble earns highest Bronze Award at Italian Choral Festival

The Somerset Community College Vocal Ensemble earned the highest score in the Bronze Awards announced Saturday, March 29, at the closing ceremonies of the Days of International Choir Music Festival in Verona, Italy.

This was the second time the SCC Vocal Ensemble had traveled to Verona and won a Bronze Award. The SCC vocal group improved upon their 2006 performance record with a score that was just two points from a Silver Award. In fact, many of the international panel of judges gave SCC a Silver Award score, but they fell just short of the higher award.

While SCC Music Director was somewhat disappointed by missing the Silver, he was pleased that another group from South Central Kentucky, the Campbellsville University Chorale, did earn the Silver. A youth choir from Cincinnati, Ohio, won the Gold Medal in the mixed choir category in which SCC competed making it a sweep for the United States.

SCC competed against more than 30 choral groups from 14 counties, including Ireland, Japan, Russia, France, China, Great Britain, and Germany.

In addition to the SCC competition performance at the Theatre Nuevo in Verona, the group also sang at a Mass in the Basilica di Santa Croce in Florence, Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Verona, and several other locations. The parishoners at St. Croce concluded the service with applause for the SCC singers. At Our Lady of Lourdes Church, a Japanese visitor tells choir members that their singing was a special blessing for him.

During their 5-day working tour of Italy, the SCC Vocal Ensemble visited Verona, Venice, Florence and the City of Garda on the shores of Italy’s largest lake, Lake Garda.

“The members of the Somerset Community College Vocal Ensemble were a credit to Somerset and SCC,” said David Cazalet, the SCC Director of Public Relations. “Everywhere they went; our students demonstrated good spirits, goodwill and good sportsmanship as they competed at the international level. I hope Somerset is as proud of their accomplishment as I am.”

Somerset Community College is a comprehensive two-year institution of higher education. SCC has campuses in Somerset and London, centers in Clinton, McCreary, Casey and Russell Counties. The website is www.somerset.kctcs.edu. Call for admission and registration information toll free at 1-877-629-9722.

KCTCS serves the Commonwealth through 16 community and technical college districts that form a seamless system of 62 campuses open or under construction. KCTCS colleges change lives by providing accessible and affordable education and training through academic and technical associate degrees; diploma and certificate programs in occupational fields; pre-baccalaureate education; adult, continuing and developmental education; customized training for business and industry; and distance learning. For more information, visit www.kctcs.edu.