Forgive UNMC Employee Relations Director Carmen Sirizzotti if she’s beaming with pride today during the “Music as Medicine” concert at noon in the Durham Outpatient Center West Atrium.
You see, among the beautiful voices emanating from the Nebraska Children’s Chorus’ Bel Canto choir will be that of Sirizzotti’s 15-year-old daughter, Anmarie.
“They are a quality choir and I really wanted to see them sing during the ‘Music as Medicine’ series,” Sirizzotti said of the choir, which will leave Monday on a 12-day tour of Europe. “They are a good fit for the series and at the same time I’m really excited and proud to hear my daughter sing for my colleagues.”
Sirizzotti won’t be the only pride-filled member of UNMC community with a singer in the choir. Peter Coccia, M.D., the Ittner Professor of Pediatrics, will be on hand to see his daughter Kathryn sing and pediatric intensivist Mohan Mysore, M.D., will be watching his daughter, Priya, perform.
Dr. Coccia’s wife and Kathryn’s mother, Phyllis Warkentin, M.D., a UNMC pediatrics professor, will be in Washington for a meeting and won’t be able to attend the concert.
“But she made sure I was going to be there,” Dr. Coccia said in the tone of a husband who knows when to listen up.
Not that he has to be coaxed. His daughter’s experience in Bel Canto over the past seven years has been a point of pride for the entire family, Dr. Coccia said.
“This really is an amazing group,” Dr. Coccia said. “This has just been an amazing experience for these kids.”
In her 10 years in Bel Canto, Kathryn has performed in Japan, China, England, Whales and Denmark, as well as in some the finest venues in the United States.
But behind the prestigious trips is a lot of hard work, said Sirizzotti, who has carted Anmarie to and from practices and performances in her five years in Bel Canto.
The singers in Bel Canto — which is Italian for “beautiful singing” – endure three-hour practices every Saturday and another one-hour practice every Tuesday. The singers — girls and boys from grades 5 to 12 — also must memorize about 40 pieces of music in eight different languages. Bel Canto is the most advanced ensemble within the Nebraska Children’s Chorus.
During the upcoming European tour, Bel Canto will perform in Austria, France, Germany and Switzerland. Among the highlights of the tour will be a performance in the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
In fact, the performance today at UNMC will serve as a sort of sendoff for the singers before they head to Europe.
“I can’t say enough good things about Bel Canto,” Dr. Mysore said. “It really is a top-tier children’s choir, the performers really complement each other and the sound is incredible.”