A Motley of April Events

Although it was really great to have been able to spend a relaxing spring break at home, I was looking forward to the last event-filled weeks of the spring semester. One of the events that I participated in was being a part of the Holy Week liturgy. As a member of the Schola Cantorum choir, I spent a great deal of my Easter Break and Holy Week rehearsing for Triduum Masses: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil. The rehearsals were tough and filled with challenging music to learn, but all the time that I spent singing with other choir members helped create a bond that got us through the long week. I also had the privilege to cantor for the morning prayers—my first time cantering ever. It truly was a blessed week for me to be a part of, and through the intense rehearsals, I began to realize the miracle of Easter and the importance of understanding the sacred meaning of what Holy Week means to me.

Even as an Outreach Ambassador, I got to help out with Spring Preview on April 12^th, 2015—Fordham’s largest open house event for Admitted Students. I cannot even put into words just how beautiful the day was for this event. With clear skies, Fordham students enjoying themselves on Eddie’s Parade (a beloved green spot for students to hang out), and enthusiastic admitted students on campus, it was the perfect ambiance to show off just how beautiful our Rose Hill campus really is and to talk about what makes our college so special. I remember two Spring Previews ago in which I was in this position of trying to make college decisions and I will never forget the student interactions that I had that persuaded me to want to come here and be a part of this community. That is what makes Spring Preview so special and so easy—ambassadors never have a difficult time bragging about how great their college experience is because everyone’s is unique and special to them in their own way!

Me with the Fordham Ram putting some "horn" hand signs during Spring Preview!

After my shift was done, I headed over to Eddie’s and had a mini picnic with friends. It was wondrous being able to get a tan in and see all the other students enjoy themselves outside of studying and class. Later, I got to enjoy the rest of this beautiful day by also attending the University Choir’s Annual Spring Concert to support my friends in it. It was a lovely afternoon filled with glorious music that filled the University Church that complimented the wonderful day.

The beautiful University Church with University Choir and the Bronx Arts Ensemble.

Although the semester is coming to a close end, it is also one of the most eventful times of the year, with admitted students coming to a decision about schools and extracurricular clubs having their annual spring showcases. It goes to show just how much of a variety of activities Fordham has to offer that truly makes it a community open to people with many interests and outlets to express themselves.

Physics and Music: An Academic Possibility Thanks to Double Majoring/Minoring at Fordham!

After multiple snow days and cold weather that makes it so tempting to just want to always stay inside, I am still determined to make spring semester start off on just the right foot! As a sophomore, I have more freedom in which core classes I wanted to take and I was particularly excited to be able to choose classes that I had interest in and which suited my schedule best. After much scrutiny of my schedule and of the classes that I still had to take, I decided to spice up my studies here at Fordham. Although I am an Engineering Physics major, I have always had a great love for music ever since I was little and I wanted to keep music as a hobby and a part of my life. I was so ecstatic to finally be able to add a Music minor to my studies this semester by starting off with an Intro to Music History class. Minoring and Double Majoring is not too difficult of a feat to accomplish at Fordham, in fact, many advisors encourage it! Each of Fordham’s academic departments offer such a range of classes that will definitely be able to fulfill a double major or a minor for anyone who is really interested in studying that field, despite what their intended major may be. My music minor, for example, requires me to take two mandatory classes, an Intro to Music History Class and a Musicianship course, as well as six other electives that I may choose from. I can even obtain some credit from my participation in Fordham University’s Schola Cantorum, which is a choir that sings at the 11:00am mass on Sundays regularly as well as holy days, and I could also receive credit from my weekly voice lessons from an instructor at Fordham’s Music Department. The flexibility that each academic department provides in its courses and its requirements for a major and minor all contribute in making sure that every Fordham student meets their academic goals for the major and/or minor they decide to pursue.

A standard practice room in Keating Hall's basement with a piano. I have my weekly voice lessons here and I also love to come here on my spare time to have a quiet, peaceful place to practice.

Two pieces that I am working on with Schola Cantorum, a choir at Fordham that sings at Sunday mass.

My Music History class is by far one of my most favorite classes that I have ever taken in my academic career. My professor, Dr. Eric Bianchi, has got to be one of the most engaging professors and lecturers that Fordham has and has made my interest in studying music stronger to this day. It’s quite a relief from my heavy physics and math workloads to be able to sit in class and listen to some Mozart and Bach to ease my stress.

My required textbook for Music History. It even comes with CDs of various historic musical recordings!

Fordham’s medium-sized student body and diverse course offerings within each academic department allows its students to take full advantage of their liberal arts education and gives them a chance to tailor their education based on their preferences and what they want to study. At Fordham, I don’t feel limited to just taking straight science and math courses. (I do love them of course!) But it is a wonderful feeling knowing that your academic advisors and professors will assist you on every step of the way in your academic endeavors.

Holidays and Concerts at Fordham

Fordham has always been known for its holiday festivities. Every holiday season, both of Fordham’s campuses are decked out in lights, tinsel, and many kinds of holiday decorations. In addition to Fordham’s glorious holiday appearance, the university has many holiday festivities spread out through the month of December. My favorite way to get into the holiday spirit at Fordham is by attending the university’s annual Lessons and Carols Festival. This festival is comprised of two concerts held on both Fordham campuses. It features The Fordham University Choir, The Fordham University Women’s Choir, The Aily/Fordham B.F.A. in Dance Program, and The Bronx Arts Ensemble.

The Lessons and Carols Program Cover

I had the pleasure of attending The Lessons and Carols Festival on both the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses. I really enjoyed the choirs, the dancers, and the orchestra at both performances. The choirs sang beautiful holiday carols, and there were even opportunities for the audience to sing along! My roommate is in the Fordham University Women’s Choir, and seeing her and my other classmates perform was so much fun!

The Fordham University Women's Choir performing at
their Rose Hill Lessons and Carols concert

The Lessons and Carols Festival is one of many examples of the wonderful holiday spirit that Fordham embodies. Getting into the holiday spirit can be very difficult, especially during these stressful weeks before final exams. Going to holiday concerts like Lessons and Carols, and taking time to relax is very important for college students. Fordham does a great job encouraging students to relax, and to take time away from intense final exam studying to enjoy the holidays. I really enjoyed my time at The Lessons and Carols Festival, and I cannot wait to continue to celebrate my holidays at Fordham!

The Gabelli School of Business Wishes You a Merry Christmas

The Invitation to the Party

 Each year, Dean Rapaccioli, the Dean of the Gabelli School of Business, invites all of the business students and faculty to a Christmas party. As a business student, I look forward to this Christmas party each year. Although it's not a large affair, there is always good food and pleasant Christmas carols to put us in the spirit of Christmas. Moreover, it's a really nice way for the business students and faculty to get together and celebrate the Christmas season. All of the class deans, a large portion of the faculty, and most of the business students make sure to make it over to Hughes Hall for this annual party. 

This year, we were surprised by an addition to the annual party. Rather than simply listen to recorded Christmas music, Dean Rapaccioli invited the University Choir to sing Christmas carols at the party. Dean Rapaccioli herself even made requests and got the whole Business School to join in to sing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" together. Fordham students always seem to be so busy since we are involved in so many clubs, internships, and activities, but it was nice that so many people in the Business School took time out of their day to come together for this party. Moreover, I will never forget singing Christmas carols with my class deans and professors. Not everyone had a beautiful voice, but all sang proudly because at Fordham, we are truly a RAMily.

Our Christmas Tree

Some Christmas Carolers Came to Sing

Weekend Update

The beautiful Manhattan skyline from the Brooklyn Bridge Park

Amy Caffrey

After a long week of midterms, some friends and I decided to relax by heading downtown and taking a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, one of our favorite things to do! We hung out in the Brooklyn Bridge Park on the Brooklyn side of the bridge, and stayed long enough to see the beautiful view of the city skyline at night across the water.

Foster the People at the United Palace Theatre

Matthew Calhoun

Kicked off the weekend Friday night by going to see Foster The People preform at the United Palace Theater in Washington Heights, one of the most beautiful venues I've ever been to. The next day was spent with friends shopping and dining in Chelsea and SoHo, two of the coolest neighborhoods in Lower Manhattan. Sunday was dedicated to wrapping up schoolwork and studying of course, but not too bad for a weekend that flew by!

One of the Botanical Gardens' picturesque trails

Victoria Cappucci

With fall in full bloom here at Fordham, I decided to unwind this Sunday for a walk through the Botanical Gardens. The gardens are always a great way to de-stress before and after midterms, which we could all use during this time of year! And the best part is that it's free for Fordham students. Go rams!

The choir gathers for one last rehearsal

Kate Callahan

This Sunday, the Fordham University and Women’s Choirs presented their annual fall concert. These groups, which are made up of students from both the Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campuses, come together a few times a year to perform for the Fordham community. Both choirs put on impressive shows and are looking forward to the Festival of Lessons and Carols, one of Fordham’s most exciting holiday traditions!

Finding Your Groove at Fordham

Fordham is a school where everyone can find something for them. By now, you probably know we are located in NYC, so there is a plethora of musical options for every taste in the city. However, there is also a wealth of choices to indulge in your musical side on campus.

Cartel plays at last year's Spring Weekend
concert. Grouplove played the same day.

Every year, there are musical events galore that feature a wide variety of genres and performers. Last Friday night was the “Welcome Back” Club Lib rave/dance on the lawn in front of the library, and Spring Weekend’s musical acts, which often include a student DJ battle and a featured performer (last year, Cartel and Cold War Kids; once upon a time, U2), herald May’s final exams. There are a variety of choirs who sing a wide range of liturgical and classical music, a jazz ensemble, and a bunch of a cappella groups. (Here are the B-Sides, one co-ed a cappella group, covering Bastille's "Pompeii" for your enjoyment.)

Today, Titus Andronicus (a punk/indie band named after one of Shakespeare’s more gruesome plays) held a free concert behind Rodrigue’sCoffeehouse, a small student-run coffee house and NY Historical Landmark. Rod’s often sponsors student open mic nights concerts and other entertainment events around campus.

Lead singer Patrick Stickles.

Students listen to the opening acts (two student bands) while waiting for Titus Andronicus. 

Not to get too punny, but you really can find your groove here at Fordham. 

Festival of Lessons and Carols

Every December, many members of the Fordham community attend the annual Festival of Lessons and Carols as part of their unofficial start to the Christmas season. Taking place one weekend each year with performances at St. Paul's Church (across the street from Fordham's Lincoln Center campus) on Saturday and in the University Church on Sunday, this event kicks off the Christmas season with music and reflection.

University Church on Sunday, December 8th for this year's Festival of Lessons and Carols

People filled the pews and stood in the aisles of the beautifully decorated University Church to experience this year's Festival of Lessons and Carols. Fordham's University Choir and Women's Choir each perform a multitude of songs, impressing attendees with their beautiful renditions of traditional holiday carols and other musical pieces. Readings and reflections allowed the community to embrace the spirit of the season.

It was a wonderful way to start the Christmas season at Fordham!

Fordham's Women Choir

When I was walking around Eddies the first weekend of school this past fall for the club fair I was overwhelmed by all of the activities that I could partake in. As a transfer student, the first thing that I wanted to do at Fordham was get involved so that I could meet new people. I wrote my name down on a few of the email lists, one club had cooking classes, another flamenco dance lessons, they all seemed really great. The one organization that caught my immediate attention, however, was the Fordham University Women’s Choir. All throughout my high school career I was in some form of musical ensemble, and I always found a really great group of people to socialize with. So I grabbed a pamphlet and started working on my audition piece, it was a section from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana titled “In Trutina.”


My audition was great; I have never met a more welcoming soul than the choir’s direct, Stephen Fox. Stephen’s excitement and enthusiasm about the program had me hoping and praying that I would make the cut.

When I got the news that I was accepted into the choir I was ecstatic, practice would start the next day and I could not wait to become a part of the group. So the semester started and with my learning came a new exposure to music (I had never been in an all women’s choir). Our first concert was right around the corner, the fall concert at the end of October, followed by the Christmas Concert, A Festival of Lessons and Carols in December.

After the fall semester was over, and winter break come and gone I was eager to get back to school, my friends, and my extracurricular activities. The spring concert was great, it was done with the University Choir and it was also a lesson on the art and architecture of our very own University Church.

We start up again in the fall and I am really looking forward to it, and of course meeting our new members. Auditions for Fall 2011, at the Rose Hill Campus are Wednesday, August 31 - 7:00-9:00 pm and Thursday, September 1 - 7:00-9:00 pm. At the Lincoln Center Campus they are on Thursday, September 1 - 12:00-2:00 pm and Friday, September 2 - 4:00-5:00 pm.


Requirements: The 10 minute audition consists of a vocal warm up, singing either a song of your choice, an excerpt from a choral work, or a verse of "My Country 'Tis Of Thee", and a simple sight singing exercise. You only need to attend one audition session. Members of each choral ensemble will be present to welcome you and answer any questions you may have.

--
Francesca Neri
FCRH 2013

Festival of Lessons and Carols

Students and faculty are back from Thanksgiving break rested, rejuvinated and ready for the final push of the fall semester. Junior Gina Ciliberto shares one of her (and the University's) favorite celebrations of the Christmas holiday: the 20th Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols featuring the Fordham University Choir and the Bronx Arts Ensemble, held at the Church of St. Paul's the Apostle in Manhattan. Hear more about the evening of music and cheer below:

Fordham College Rose Hill: Stay Tuned: Lessons and Carols: "This is just about my favorite Fordham event of the year. The Festival of Lessons and Carols features the Fordham choirs singing Christmas ..."