Jersey Hosting Papal Choir Tour

The Choir of the Pope’s Diocese of Rome will perform at the Patriots Theater in Trenton, and the Community Theatre in Morristown this summer.

Posted May 9, 2011 by Natalia Knochowski

Choir of the Pope's Diocese.

On a 2008 visit to his hometown of Camella in Perdifumo, Italy, Basking Ridge resident Nazario Paragano first heard the Choir of the Pope’s Diocese of Rome. Paragano had returned to Camella for the rededication ceremony of a church that his family foundation had helped restore.

Moved by the choir’s sound, Paragano dreamed up another philanthropic venture: To bring the choir to America. After the performance, he shared the idea with Monsignor Marco Frisina, the choir’s musical director and a renowned composer.

“I pushed for it,” says Paragano, a builder and developer in New Jersey for the last 60 years. It has taken more than two years, but with Paragano’s financial support, the choir is making its American debut with six performances, three in New Jersey. The tour will benefit selected charities.

The choir, founded in 1984 by Monsignor Frisina, has performed at events and masses attended by the Pope, including the Beatification ceremony for Mother Teresa; the Vatican farewell to the late Pope John Paul II; the 15th World Youth Day; and even with famed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.

Forty-eight members of the 300-plus voice choir will make the U.S. trip. At the debut performance on June 4 at the Patriots Theater in Trenton (and June 8 at the Community Theatre in Morristown), they will sing secular and nonsecular music, including classical works and original pieces written by Monsignor Frisina. The June 10 performance at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark will be an all-sacred program. For tickets, call 973-520-8951 or visit thechoir.it.

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