History The
Escolanía de La Rioja is a children and young people choir whose members are between 8 and 25 years old. They share a common interest towards music, singing and the hope to reach new challenges and higher objectives every time.
It began its life in 1968 following the leadership of
Isabel Calatayud who was its music director for 36 years. Nowadays it is directed by
Elvira Guarás , who was its pianist for 12 years.
The
Escolanía de La Rioja has played on different stages such as St Peter´s Basilica in the Vatican City, in front of H.H. John Paul II in Rome, in the cathedrals of Geneve, Basilea, Zurich, Freiburg, Notre-Dame, in St Stephen Church in Vienna where it represented Spain in the Nations Congress. It has also played in the Congress Palace “The Gold Rose” in Montreux, in the “Zentrum Burepark” in Bern or in the Berrgieres Hall” in Laussane. est intervenue sur différentes scènes comme la Basilique Saint Pierre du Vatican, pour S.S. Jean Paul II á Rome ; dans les Cathédrales de Genève, Bâle, Zurich, Freiburg, Notre-Dame et dans la Cathédrale Saint Etienne de Vienne où elle représentait l’Espagne lors du Congrès des Nations. Elle a joué au Palais des Congrès « La Rose d’Or » de Montreux, dans le « Centrum Burepark » de Berne et dans la salle « Bergieres » de Lausane.
It has also played in the University of Heildelberg (Germany) or in the “Grande Place” inBrussels in front of the King and Queen of Belgium in the oficial sites of the UN and the NATO before the international diplomatic body, in the “Teatro Real” in Madrid , in the TVE studios in Prado del Rey or in more Spanish other cities like Barcelona, Valencia, Saragosse, Bilbao, Lérida, Pamplona, Salamanca, Ávila, Soria, Torrevieja,…
More recently the
Escolanía de La Rioja has colaborated in charity concerts to help Haití, ARNAC, ARDEM, UNICEF, AACC. It has taken its music to the cathedral of Toulouse(2007), Cathedral of Sto. Domingo de la Calzada and Toledo (2008) ,Cathedral of Segovia, the Riojan Parliament, Riojaforum, (2009), Saint Etienne de Baigorri( France 2010) and San Bassiano Basilica (Lodivecchio, Italy 2011).
The good reviews and warm welcome both from the public and from the Experts have always been an important incentive as they are a recognition for the work developed. They help keep the Escolanía de La Rioja working in a region where there is not a long tradition of children choirs. The concerts leave a trace because of the quality of the voices, the sensitivity they convey and the ability to communicate. All the result of a careful preparation.
