Italy – Pellezzano (Sa)

The Kantika Vocal Ensemble is part of the Choral Association “Ad Libitum” from Pellezzano (Salerno). The Enseble was founded in 2010 by Raffaella Scafuri with the intent of develop passion and interest for choral music on the territory, addressing mainly to young people and children.
The first nucleus of Kantika Vocal Ensemble is formed by a small group of people (without age restriction) who had in common curiosity about choral music. The Ensemble took its first steps with determination, favored by passion and desire to do something for the community.
After a natural period of settlement, the Ensemble reached a stable number of choristers, which nowadays are approximately 22. This stability permitted the director to carry on a continuous work under the personal and vocal profile.
The concerts in these years were appreciated not only for the choice of the repertoire, which is responding to the choir’s sensitivity and vocal characteristics, but also for the interpretation and vocals, which are well-finished and attentive to the text’s expressive requirements and praxis.
The Kantika Vocal Ensemble sings an ample repertoire without style and period preclusions, which is articulated in thematic or monographic programmes realised through researches and precious collaborations with various compositors as Giuseppe Di Bianco and Marco Ferretti.
The care and novelty of the thematic programme Eat…vojio bene assaje elaboration, as well as the artistic merits, were appreciaterd by the Artistic Commission of ARCC (Associazione Regionale Cori Campania, the association of choirs from Campania, ndt). Therefore the Commission chose the ensemble to represent Campania in the artistic events for Expo 2015 in Milan (Feeding Souls Thanking For Food).
The ensemble won the Third Prize at the “Antonio Guanti” International Choral Competition (Matera 2013) and recently two First Prizes at the “Città di Vittorio Veneto” 50th Choral Competition (May 2016) in the Category A (Programme on author’s music) and in the Category B (Programme on folk music).
The ensemble is conducted by Raffaela Scafuri.