The Verbum Dei Choir was founded in 1982, thanks to the new minister, Father Arrigo Chieregatti, and his co-operation with the Maestro Friedrich Ambrogio. Originally, Verbum Dei was a polyphonic group based on three mingled voices, which primarily aimed at accompanying the different solemn moments of the liturgy.
Along the years, the choir has been performing in many concerts in several localities in Emilia and Tuscany, as well as in the town of Ravenna.
On Sunday 18 December 1989 it performed during the Holy Mass filmed by the RAI [Italian Television Network] in Saint Anthony’s Church of Pioppe, in the province of Bologna. The choir currently attends many festivals sponsored by AERCO - Associazione Emiliano Romagnola Cori [Emilia-Romagna Choirs Association] of which Verbum Dei is a member.
Two of the above said festivals are worth mentioning: the concert held at Villa Mazzacorati and the one in Saint Saviour’s Abbey, on the occasion of the 6th Holy Music Festival for choral chant held on 7 May 1994. Though the steady presence in the liturgical life of the parish, in spring 1998 the choir took part in the Festival called Le Voci del Reno [The Voices of Reno] performing in three concerts.
In September 1998 the singers welcomed the new Conductor Giovanni Montanaro, whilst in 1999 - owing to their Chairman’s will – they joined the parish choir of Vado di Setta (in the Province of Bologna), giving birth to the present group known as Dei Verbum Chorus. The official début took place on 25 September 1999, with a concert in Saints Michael and Peter’s Church in Salvaro, in the Province of Bologna): the occasion was the anniversary and commemoration of a tragedy occurred in wartime, the so called Botte di Pioppe’s Massacre.
A lot of concerts have been held in different areas of the region throughout the years. Worth mentioning among them are the participation in the 9th Advent Festival in December 2001 in the Bolognese Saint Benedict’s Church and the 3rd, 4th and 5th editions of Le Voci del Reno [The Voices of Reno] Festival, which took place in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Worth underlining is also the participation in several editions of the Chorals’ Diocesan Festival, organized in Saint Peter’s Cathedral, Bologna, during the Solemnity of Cristo Re [Christ the King].
Always in 2002, some singers from Dei Verbum Chorus joined the Bolognese choir called Scena Musicale [Musical Scene], to perform in the Opera Tosca by G.Puccini, staged on 25 and 28 April at the Consorziale Theatre in Budrio (Province of Bologna), and on 6 November in the Municipal Theatre of S.Felice sul Panaro (Province of Modena).
In December 2002 the chorus took part in the Christmas concert ‘Living Christmas Live’ held at the Theatre in Budrio.
During 2003 the Dei Verbum Chorus - though standing by its liturgical commitment carried out in local parishes – performed in two concerts within the 6th music exhibition Le Voci del Reno [The Voices of Reno].
Our President joined the Scena Musicale chorus in the opera Bohème by G.Puccini, directed by Paolo Poli, that was performed on 25 and 27 April 2003 at the Consorziale Theatre in Budrio (Bologna) and again on 7 May at the Comunale Theatre in San Felice sul Panaro (Modena).
The peculiarity of the chorus is the deep religious sensitivity matched with a particular attention to the sacred author’s repertoire. Its long experience in this field, supported by the whole parish community, led it to become one of the most important musical realities at local level.