LR soprano sings in Rome concert

Little Rock resident Christine Westhoff will travel to Rome next week to perform.

The 31-year-old classically trained operatic soprano who focuses on sacred music will perform at the San Silvestro Chapel to an audience of priests, prelates of the church and royalty.

Although she trained as an operatic singer, Westhoff said she felt drawn to sacred music, particularly oratorios, which are musical compositions that usually have a religious theme.

“I assumed I was going to be an opera singer,” Westhoff said. “I had done all the training, starting at an early age, about 9, and the whole goal was to sing operatically. But I hit a point after college and thought if this is what the rest of my singing days will be like, I don’t know that I will be entirely fulfilled.”

Westhoff said she found an old oratorio book and knew what God was calling her to do.

“I thought it had to be divine providence,” she said.

A Catholic, Westhoff is particularly pleased to kick off her 2013 concert tour in Rome.

“I’ve been very lucky and blessed with opportunities that seem to fall in my lap,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

Westhoff released her first recording Oro Pro Nobis in 2011 and said reaction was positive.

“It hit a market,” she said. “People sort of picked up with this. I look at it as an instrument in God’s work.”

Westhoff has performed throughout the world, including in cathedrals, basilicas and churches. She said when she first began singing sacred music and oratorios she got mixed reviews from audiences not used to hearing such music from an opera singer.

“Now I find in these concerts that people want to hear this music,” she said. “It’s a good gig. My office winds upbeing spectacular cathedrals.”

Her tour performances will include not only sacred and oratorio pieces, but also selections by contemporary U.K. composer Ash Madni. Following the premiere in Italy, Westhoff will perform a series of concerts and recitals in England, Canada and the United States. She also hopes to schedule a performance in Arkansas in February.

Westhoff is married to Timothy Allen, a British composer who serves as organist and choirmaster at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Little Rock.

More information is available online at christinewesthoff.com.

Religion, Pages 15 on 10/05/2013

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