Around 20 chairs and music stands are placed around a wooden piano and a whiteboard with pitches written on it. Hanley Hall at Holy Spirit in Tempe, Arizona is home to the St. Florian Choir, a Gregorian children’s choir directed by Giorgio Navalini. Navalini is also the founder and director of the famous male vocal ensemble Floriani.
The creation of St. Florian’s Choir was motivated by the desire of several families to have their children learn Gregorian chant and the sacred music of the Catholic Church. Mr. Navalini said he complied because as a musician he had learned how to teach over the years.
“The choir spends almost all of its time learning the ancient art of Gregorian chant.
Teach them how to sing sacred music, and not just how to sing sacred music, but how to be a musician,” Navalini said. This requires not only learning how to sight read, singing and developing a healthy voice, but also how to share that gift with those around you.
As Christians, every gift the Lord gives us is meant to be shared, and St. Florian’s choristers understand this very well. They practice in Holy Spirit Parish but travel from parish to parish to share their musical gifts.
Choir members range in age from 9 to 16 years old.
love of religious music
Arianna Falconberg said, “I joined because I love singing and have always wanted to join a choir. I love being Catholic.” “This is a beautiful religion, and with the St. Florian Choir I am able to do both.”
It’s hard to imagine that young people today, much less children, know and love Gregorian chant. But for her nearly 20 children in the choir, it couldn’t be further from reality.
Ariana Falconberg added, “It’s beautifully sung, all the notes and lyrics blend together and it’s so beautiful.”
Annie Faulk, another choir member, also joined because she loved singing. Although she has been singing since she was young, she said being part of a choir opened the door to more singing.
“My favorite thing about being in choir is maybe learning new songs and old chants that people don’t remember, like chants from thousands of years ago,” Faulk said.
unexpected
Navalni said what he didn’t expect about St. Florian’s choir was “the high level of performance.” 
The professionalism of such young musicians. ” They were able to do what professional musicians could do, he added, and the choir accomplished it in a short amount of time. He has been working with most of them for about two years.
“They can recognize key signatures and sing Gregorian chant neums, which is actually unheard of in most parts of the world and in most music programs.”
deepening faith life
Navalny added that the children have a strong family culture and a strong Catholic identity.
Becky Green, a choir mother, said her daughter’s religious life has been enriched by being a member of the choir. Navalini taught them to understand music and its greater purpose, which is to lead us to God.
Another mother, Adriana Carvajal, said she has been influenced by her daughter’s religious life, especially during Mass. “During Mass, you could see that her daughter’s heart was there,” Carvajal said. Being part of her choir allowed her to improve her concentration.
It was nothing new to her, as her daughter had always liked Gregorian chants because her father always listened to them. When she heard about the children’s choir, she wanted to join.
Jen Steinke, mother of two choristers, commented that children’s attention spans are naturally short.
So singing something like Gregorian chant may seem difficult for them to concentrate. But she emphasizes Navalini’s ability to develop their talents and stimulate their focus.
She witnessed this ability in her own children.
“[The way it has affected their life] It piqued their interest in understanding the liturgy and music of the Mass on a deeper level,” Steineke said.
Jean Falconberg, an aunt of one of the choir members, said that although her niece grew up listening to choirs, becoming a member of the choir gave her a new love for religious music.
“I think that probably gave her a vocation. She’s talking about maybe becoming a nun, entering a convent… But she also became a music teacher, like a teacher, and religious We also talk about really focusing on music,” says Falconberg.
Sacred Music in Mission
Mr. Green said the children view participating in the choir as a missionary activity.
In addition to having the opportunity to sing in various parishes around the valley, the children are participating in missionary work on a sacred music tour in Rome, including the Vatican City, from August 22nd to 27th. Of the participants, 14 of her family members will be participating, including about 13 of her family members.
The kids look forward to sharing the beauty of sacred music during their trip to Rome, and in true childlike hearts, they’re also excited about gelato.
To raise funds for this tour in Rome, the children are selling albums they have recorded. Holy Smoke Comedy offered to host her Improv & Sketch Comedy Night to support the fundraiser, and FiAt Productions also contributed to the effort.
A few weeks ago, kids sang in downtown Gilbert. They found a two-story building with an open space with beautiful acoustics. Nereida Luna, the mother of a choir member who is in charge of fundraising, spoke about her experience.
“A woman came up to me and made a donation and said, ‘That’s my daughter from 20 years ago.’ Another woman went to drop off a donation and walked past me to leave. “I cried when I heard their songs,” Luna said.
They also walked along the sidewalk that passed in front of the restaurant. There was music playing inside the restaurant, but Luna noticed people turning towards the children.
Another parent noticed a small boy, about 7 or 8 years old, standing there just looking at the choir members in amazement. Twice he dropped a few dollars into their collection.
It is beautiful to see how the Holy Spirit appears and moves in these children’s lives at such a young age. It is clear that God is not only moving in their lives, but also in the lives of those who see and hear it.
If you would like us to help you with your sacred music tour in Rome, please email choristersofstflorian@gmail.com for additional information.
