The Ave Maria recital was presented by Saint Mary’s Cathedral choir comprising of John Beaverstock, Alessio Loiacono, Pia Schelfhout, Xavier Jarvis, Elizabeth O’Callaghan, Ethan Ricafranca, Dominique Douglas-Smith, Alix Hamilton, Susannah Williams, Erin Bussanich, Sian Bussanich, Jacinta Jakovcevic, and (under 18) organist Joshua Crestwell, on Sunday, 19 September. Photo: Ron Tan.
For the past 12 years, the Saint Mary’s Cathedral choir have put on a display of musical devotion, to commemorate the birthday of its’ Patroness and Mother of the Church. This year was no exception.
More than 100 guests spent the afternoon of Sunday, 19 September listening to an array of classical sacred music, led by Director of Cathedral Music Jacinta Jakovcevic.
The pieces presented at the Ave Maria recital included Toccata in g minor by Johann Pachelbel (1653 to 1706), Scherzetto by Louis Vierne (1870 to 1936), Choral song by Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810 to 1876), Prelude and Fugue in G minor by Diderik Buxetehude (1637 to 1707), Laudamus Te (from ‘Gloria RV 589) by Antonio Vivaldi (1678 to 1741), Allegro (from ‘Concerto in F major’) Georg Frederic Handel (1685 to 1759), Ave Maria Stella by Louis Couperin (1626 to 1661), Menuet (from ‘Suite Gothique’) by Leon Boellmann (1862 to 1897) and more.
The Ave Maria recital is held in conjunction with the birthday of Mother Mary. This year, the event was held on Sunday, 19 September at St Mary’s Cathedral. Photo: Ron Tan.
The recital ended with Franz Shubert’s (1771 to 1828) rendition of Ave Maria followed by Hail Queen of Heaven!
Looking back on the first Ave Maria recital, held back in September 2009, Ms Jakovcevic recalled the programme took place in the last few months of the Cathedral’s refurbishment.
“Due to our then-home (St Joachim’s Pro-Cathedral) not having a pipe organ, the first recital was held at Trinity College Chapel with myself, Daniel Mullaney and Joshua Adams (who was then a young treble singer) providing the music,” she said.
“This recital can be seen to show the development of the Music Programme since then – this year we had 13 musicians take part (including nine of our organists) – representing the numerous streams which now make up the Music Programme – and the growth of our organist streams.
“It was especially wonderful to have members of our Young Organists programme take part for the very first time – this programme is quite new and involves young musicians as part time organ scholars. They train and learn about the role of the pipe organ in Catholic Liturgy,” she added.
The ensemble line-up comprised of John Beaverstock, Alessio Loiacono, Pia Schelfhout, Xavier Jarvis, Elizabeth O’Callaghan, Ethan Ricafranca, Dominique Douglas-Smith, Alix Hamilton, Susannah Williams, Erin Bussanich, Sian Bussanich, Jacinta Jakovcevic, and (under 18) organist Joshua Crestwell.
Ms Jakovcevic encouraged more people to join in future events, as bringing the community together for this event serves as a great encouragement for our young musicians who choose to be here and train, dedicating their time and efforts to the Church.
“I do hope more people attend this recital in years to come. It is an important event to highlight or Patroness, Our Lady, and to highlight to people the fact that through her and her Immaculate Conception and birth into this world, God’s promise of the Saviour, Jesus Christ came true,” Ms Jakovcevic cited.
Director of Cathedral Music Jacinta Jakovcevic encouraged more people to join in the future Ave Maria recitals and St Mary’s Cathedral events, as bringing the community together for this event serves as a great encouragement for our young musicians who choose to be here and train, dedicating their time and efforts to the Church. Photo: Ron Tan.
“Mother Mary’s birthday is truly a joyful celebration and draws us more into the mystery of our salvation. “I hope that bringing the community together for this event is also a time of prayer since many composers who wrote for the organ and wrote the sacred works we sing and play were actually church musicians through the ages and intrinsically understood Catholic Liturgy – immersing themselves ever deeper into