ANN DOLAN (Faculty, Voice) SHARES HER MUSIC IN EASTERN EUROPE

 

Recently, Voice Department Faculty member Ann Dolan, was sponsored for a tour/pilgrimage throughout Eastern Europe. Ann’s song, “Turn, Turn, to Me”, a contemporary religious piece about the central figure of Mary, earned her this fellowship and was chosen as the theme song for the tour. She visited Prague, Czech Republic, Krakow, Poland, and Wadowice, Poland; the birthplace of Pope John Paul II.

 

Following Wadowice, she toured concentration camps at Auschwitz, Poland, Budapest, Hungary, and Medugorje, Yugoslavia. Ann embraced the challenges of performing on buses, boats, hotels, and historic sites – often without accompaniment or amplification. Ann was riveted by the people, the settings, the history, and the landscape around her. Audiences welcomed her, and sang along with her, and together they created a communal musical and emotional experience that fused language, culture, and faith.

 

Continuing the journey, Ann made her way to the Swiss Alps, crossing into Croatia, to board an overnight ferry to Assisi, Italy. Her next stop was St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where she performed for a papal audience under Pope Benedict XVI. Ann visited Padua, Italy before Vienna, Austria for a wonderful celebration of Austrian music and dance.

 

Ann experienced a rewarding and fulfilling journey, and once stateside, continued to work on her upcoming album. Ann’s project contains Jazz, Folk, Contemporary Christian, Bossa Nova, Calypso, Adult Contemporary, Celtic, and African styles to accomplish Ann’s musical storytelling. 

 

Ann anticipates an October, 2009 release date.