News - March 28, 2008

Volunteers make it a ‘SUper Friday’

This semester saw the first edition of a ‘SUper Friday’ session of volunteer storytelling with SU Florence students. Amanda Kanekuni, Nicole Staneck, and Joshua Jessen, all from SU, recently spent one Friday doing storytelling back-to-back with three third grade classes, one fourth grade class, and two fifth grade classes in the nearby town of Scandicci. Says Kanekuni, “As I recounted my experiences from the day to friends, I realized how similar to the children I was. They were unsure about their English; I can be unsure about my Italian. In the classroom and the school cafeteria, we were equals. It amazed me that a simple book such as Because a Little Bug Went Kachoo allowed us to cross communication barriers in a simple and beautiful way. SUperFriday was an amazing experience and I cannot wait for my next ‘storytelling’ opportunity.”

The different volunteer programs available represent SUF’s goal of connecting its students with the host community by encouraging them to get off campus and out into the Italian community. Thus far, thirty students have participated in the Storytelling (volunteers have taught over thirty classes in eleven schools throughout Florence) and Soup Kitchen programs, as well as in the Reading for the Blind program. This is a new volunteer initiative, whereby students record themselves as they read books in English for the Unione Italiana Ciechi (Center for the Blind) in Florence. Kimberly DiMaggio, SU, has recorded several children’s books in English from the comfort of her host family’s home and says of this experience, “Reading the books out loud is for a good cause and I really give credit to those who are listening because they want to learn a new language.  I admire their spirit and their will to succeed, and I’m glad that I can be a part of that.”

Students make their presence felt in a very positive way, leaving something of themselves behind ‘in exchange’ for the wealth of experience and culture that Florence offers them as they spend a semester living here. 

SUF students show they can be an important part of the host community, with today’s actions influencing the lives of tomorrow.

Keeping score: work progresses on SU Florence’s world premiere children’s opera

Progress continues on the musical score and libretto for the children’s opera to be performed in Florence in mid-April, 2009, in conjunction with SU Florence’s fifty-year celebration.

Elizabeth Luttinger, composer and SU graduate student at the Setnor School of Music, is writing the musical score, collaborating with Eric Nicholson, theater performer and SUF professor, who is writing the libretto. Luttinger was chosen for this project by Andrew Waggoner, Associate Professor and Chair of the Composition Department at the Setnor School of Music, who says, “I chose Elizabeth for this project because she has the right mix of qualities: a strong dramatic sense, multimedia creativeness (she is also a choreographer), an excellent feel for what’s good for vocal music—and a great sense of humor.”

Luttinger and Waggoner are presently at the SU Florence campus meeting with Nicholson, hard at work on the third draft of the opera libretto.  While Luttinger is already in the midst of composing a musical score for her thesis, she is excited about her involvement in this project.

The opera title, for now, remains top-secret.