Salve, Friends and Family,
We are here in Assisi! It is incredibly beautiful here. Right now we are sitting in a local caffé eating lemon mousse cake and drinking delicious Italian coffee.

Today was our first day of "work." rehearsing for the many upcoming concerts. This is a large quantity of music! The festival consists of 22 performances in 14 days, not including several church services. It is hard to think of our many hours of rehearsal as work, when we are surrounded by such a picturesque town and countryside.

News of note: my new choral piece, Ubi Caritas, will be premiered this Sunday during a Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis!  First rehearsal went great, despite some challenging harmonies.  I wrote a solo descant for Melissa, so this will also be her first solo in Italy. We visited the Basilica today. The views within and without were stunning, and it was flooded with pilgrims and tourists. The frescoes, sculpture, woodworking, and other art were filled with stories and meaning and could keep an art historian busy for years.

Here are some picture highlights for your enjoyment.

Buona sera!

Dave and Melissa

Our room (nostra camera)

Caprese



The view from the city at dusk




The Basilica of St. Francis (San Francesco)



Buon giorno!