Smith travels to Italy with Colby Chorale

Soprano Dori M. Smith, a junior at Colby College in Waterville, recently returned from Italy where she was on a concert tour with the Colby College Chorale March 25-31. Smith, the daughter of Charles and Marguerite Smith, of Presque Isle, is a music major. She is a graduate of Presque Isle High School.
    The “Easter in Italy/Africa in America” concert was inspired by the Paschal season, especially music by Italian composers. The trip included performances in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and Chlesa Santa Maria della Scalla in Rome. The group then continued on to Florence and Castelflorentino. The repertoire included Gregorian chant and works for Lent by Palestrina, Lotti, Rossini and others. The second half of the program, in contrast, celebrated Africa, including works derived from or influenced by African music. Upon their return, members of the Chorale presented a concert at Colby on April 7, in Lorimer Chapel. Under the direction of Paul Machlin, the Arnold Bernhard Professor of Arts and Humanities, the Colby College Chorale is the college’s largest formal chorus, including more than 75 Colby students.