Our last full day in Spoleto began quietly as students had free time until the first performance at 12pm. The winning contrada was treated to breakfast at Caffe degli Artisti, a local student favorite for Nutella crepes and fresh brioche. Many other students took advantage of the morning to do last minute souvenir shopping, enjoy a cappucino or begin packing.

At 12pm, students, faculty and fellows gathered at the school to view exhibits set up by the Visual Arts and Photography students.

During Siesta, students finished packing, played cards, prepared for their evening performances and stuck around the convent, spending time with their friends.

At 6pm, students gathered at the chapel at Terazza Frau to see final performances for strings, drama and creative writing. On a few of their pieces, the violin students were accompanied by Euntaek Kim, Eric Gratz, and Sayaka Selina-Studer. After their performance pieces, Katibeth and Ann played a surprise duet for their instructor, Niccoló.

The Creative Writing students started their performance by reading a poem they wrote reflecting on their experiences with Jan, their teacher. They also presented their pieces about ordinary and extraordinary- taking an ordinary object and finding what makes it extraordinary. Drama students, Meaghan and Danielle presented their monologues, fully transforming into their characters.

After our final meal at Hotel Clitunno (and a delicious strawberry semifredo for dessert!) we returned to Terazza Frau for the vocal performances. First we heard Opera and Operetta pieces including “Cat Duet” (Duetto Buffo de Due Gatti) by Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868) “Prenderò quel brunettino” from Così fan tutte (1789) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart “As summer brings a wistful breeze” from Ghosts of Versailles (1991) John Corigliano “Via resti servita”, “Le Nozze di Figaro” (1786) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart “Aprite, presto, aprite”, “Le Nozze di Figaro” (1786) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart “Sull’aria”, ” Le Nozze di Figaro” (1786) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart “Ricevete, o padroncina” and “Le Nozze di Figaro” (1786) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

After the classical pieces, we heard a selection of musical theater songs. “Three Little Maids from School” from The Mikado (1885) by Gilbert & Sullivan “Impossible/It’s Possible” from Cinderella (1957) by Rodgers & Hammerstein “Sisters” from White Christmas (1954) by Irving Berlin “Bosom Buddies” from Mame (1966) by Jerry Herman “Anything You Can Do” from Annie Get Your Gun (1950) by Irving Berlin “In His Eyes” from Jekyll and Hyde (1990) by Frank Wildhorn “You Could Drive a Person Crazy” from Company (1970) by Stephen Sondheim and “Some Things Are Meant To Be” from Little Women (2005) by Jason Howland

Our final performance day ended with five pieces from the choir and a beautiful encore performance in front of the Duomo.