Concert will promote church's restoration

Deborah Rocco is an opera singer who has performed with the Lake George Opera, the Albany Symphony, the Mendelssohn Club and Opera Excelsior, as well as other groups.

The accomplished soprano is looking forward to participating in a spring performance of Handel's "Messiah" at the former St. Joseph's Church in Albany -- in which other local Catholics are invited to participate, as well.

The concert, which will be held May 4, 3 p.m., is a fundraiser to help restore historic St. Joseph's, which was built in 1860 and designed by architect Patrick Keely, who also designed the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany.

Performers like Mrs. Rocco are donating their services for the event. Organizers hope to have a choir of 100 performing; more singers and instrumentalists are still being sought.

Connection

"I was attracted to this project because my father's family, the Rileys, were members of St. Joseph's parish for many years," Mrs. Rocco said. "My father was baptized [in 1929] and made his First Communion there. I never really knew his side of the family, and I felt singing in that church would somehow be a connection to my past. I could tap into the rich history of the time my family spent there."

Mrs. Rocco's father, Paul Riley, eventually moved with his family and became a parishioner of St. Patrick's in Albany. Many of the stories Mr. Riley still tells involve either St. Joseph's or St. Patrick's: "The Church really was the center of family life," Mrs. Rocco noted.

Concert organizer Sylvia Kutchukian, director of Christian Arts International, is excited that Mrs. Rocco has volunteered to perform.

"I was amazed," Miss Kutchukian said. "She is such a respected singer."

Back and forward

Both women are looking forward to the performance of "Messiah" at St. Joseph's, which closed in 1994.

"When you consider all the intense emotions that still must resonate there -- birth, love, hope and great sadness -- what could be better than a chance to marry these same emotions with music," Mrs. Rocco said. "It will be a testament to the past souls who worshiped there, to our souls joined in the magic of worshiping God through our making of music and to the souls yet to come. We will be one, and that borders on the divine!"

Miss Kutchukian agreed, saying: "St. Joseph's Church was established to glorify God and nurture the faith and spiritual expression of its people."

Her goal now is to transform the church into a center for Christian performing arts. A professional singer who has appeared at Carnegie Hall and the White House, Miss Kutchukian said she has seen "fabulous cathedrals around the world. Years ago, when I first set eyes on [St. Joseph's], I fell in love with it. I want to bring our community to its feet to do something to preserve it."

Mrs. Rocco hopes other Catholic musicians come forward and volunteer for this effort.

"What Christ did for us was infinite," she stated. "We should give back with the talents God gave us."

There will be no auditions for performers. "We are looking for hearts that are ready to worship," Miss Kutchukian explained. "We will provide them with vocal help."

(A parishioner of St. Margaret Mary's in Albany, Mrs. Rocco studied music at The College of Saint Rose. She put aside her musical aspirations while raising her two sons, then became director of educational outreach for the Lake George Opera. In this position, she brings opera to schools in New York, Massachusetts and Vermont.)

Rehearsals will take place at the chapel of Siena College in Loudonville every Friday, 7-9 p.m., beginning Jan. 11. Interested musicians and singers can call Sylvia Kutchukian, 459-3152.

(01/10/08) [[In-content Ad]]