Christmas at Loretto

Join the South Bend Chamber Singers for their annual holiday concert, Christmas at Loretto!

This concert begins our 36th season, and as is our tradition, we have commissioned a new work especially for the occasion from Argentinian composer, Santiago Veros. He is writing a new work for mixed choir, string quintet, and organ, entitled Glaciares (Glaciers). Veros is a young composer who is becoming internationally known for his choral writing. Santiago writes, “Every day of my life I wake up with the purpose of creating and improving connections between people. Talking, being transparent, and sharing our objectives is the first step to grow together. As an artist I feel the obligation to leave something embodied on this earth, something that makes us reflect. It is important to determine that art is something inherent to the human condition and therefore no human can be left out of its practice and enjoyment.” This commission was partially funded by a gift from Marc Belanger, in memory of his wife Elizabeth Rankin. Santiago will be in residence for the dress rehearsal and performance of his new work.

Other works on the program from the 20th and 21st centuries will feature primarily American and British composers, including works with organ that feature our fantastic accompanist, Kevin Vaughn. This annual holiday concert always draws a large crowd of Northwest Indiana residents. It will close, as usual, with our traditional, candlelit “Silent Night.”

About Santiago Veros, Composer:

Santiago’s music “provided a powerful high point of tension in our concert, and one could tell the audience was engaged in its drama” (Elektra Women’s Choir). His compositions are performed all over the world, and he frequently undertakes world tours to give concerts and clinics. His pieces have been featured in festivals and ACDA conferences. Santiago is known for making composer-in-residence visits to colleges and universities, sharing his knowledge and creating memorable experiences. His charismatic character and his endearing community spirit are embodied in each of his pieces. As a full-time composer, he has shared a significant number of works written in collaboration with the renowned poet Charles Anthony Silvestri. Likewise, he supports other composers through collaborations and guides them in their professional careers