A musical performance by students from Armenia, Japan, Hong Kong, Italy, Mexico, Slovenia and Spain was the College’s contribution to the 200 anniversary celebrations at ITIS, social service partner of UWC Adriatic since 1982
On November 13th a group of UWC Adriatic students held a special performance that was part of the 200th anniversary celebrations programme of ITIS – Azienda Pubblica di Servizi alla Persona in Trieste. ITIS is a retirement home that has been a social service partner of the College since it was founded in 1982. Ever since, our students have visited the retirement home on a weekly basis to keep the elderly company and assist them with simple tasks. In addition, students have frequently prepared presentations about their countries, cultures and traditions and it has also happened that alumni returning to Duino for the Reunion have gone back to ITIS to visit the residents there after many years.
The UWC Adriatic show at ITIS featured a variety of musical acts. Frieda (Mexico) played some folk music from her country’s Veracruz region. Anahit (Armenia) sang “Love Letter”, a love song written by Victor Young. Ikuto (Japan) played on the piano a song from “Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence”, a film about the differences between the East and the West. Laura (Spain) sang “Ojalá”, a Spanish song by Silvio Rodriguez about hope for the future, accompanied by Francesco (Italy) on the guitar. Beatrice (Italy) sang “Sospiri di foco”, a piece composed by the 17th century Italian musician Francesco Cavalli. Perina (Slovenia) sang “Nora Misel”, a Slovene rendition of a successful Italian song from the 1970s and Timothy (Hong Kong) joined the other students in singing “No hay tanto pan”, a Spanish-language song about inequality and how we can fight it.
The event was organised and presented by Marek Hlaváč, the College’s economics teacher, who introduced the audience at ITIS to our school’s history and values. In addition, Stefano Sacher, the College music teacher, spoke about the importance of music in the academic and extracurricular programme at UWC Adriatic. Maria Canfora, the College’s World Arts and Cultures teacher, also accompanied the group. In 2015 Maria started the “Art Through the Ages” project in collaboration with ITIS and Museo Revoltella. As part of this endeavour, UWC Adriatic students organise regular visits to Museo Revoltella in Trieste for the elderly residents of ITIS. These visit encourage both the old and the young to overcome linguistic, cultural and age-related differences in order to collectively enjoy and discuss the museum’s wonderful modern art collection.
In the words of Beatrice, our students’ performance was “a chance to thank the elderly people at ITIS for welcoming us so enthusiastically”, says Beatrice Palumbo, a first-year student from Italy who performed in the show. “We were all very eager to share our energy and enthusiasm about the our UWC Adriatic experience and to send a message of hope and trust in new generations of young people”, she added. For Anahit “The concert was a way to feel the taste of UWC values” she says. “Their simple and heartfelt words of thanks at the end were very touching and rewarding for us”.
