Biography

The association Coro Polifonico “Exultate Deo” was officially founded in 1990, on the occasion of the celebrations for the anniversary of the Millennium of the foundation of the city of Mammola and at the same time of the death of the Patron Saint Nicodemus, “heart” of the spirituality of the Association itself. Concretely he took his first steps in the 70s through the service of liturgical animation in the parish and the realization of very significant experiences such as the Musicals “Christ 2000”, “Together is possible” and “Reading the Passion”. Msgr. Cornelio Femia, a great lover of choral music, archpriest pro-tempore of Mammola, directs the choir towards sacred polyphony, as an enrichment of liturgical animation.

He participates in the Diocesan and Regional Meetings and organizes concerts in the various cities of the Region and outside. He took part as a guest in various cultural events including “Calabria-America Award” which saw those fellow emigrants who with study and work have conquered prestigious places in Europe and in the world. On this occasion the choir offered musical interludes of various kinds (motets, madrigals, Neapolitan classics, etc.). Under the aegis of Don Giorgio Costantino, president of the O.C.C. (Organizzazione Cori Calabria), accompanied the solemn Jubilee Celebration in the Sacrato of St. Peter’s Basilica, on the occasion of the Genetliaco di S.S. G. Paul II, in May 2000. In November 2002 he participated in the National Conference “Media Parables” chaired by the then Cardinal Ratzinger, in the Paul VI Hall (Nervi). Another important initiative was the participation in the National Competition of unpublished Christmas carols in the vernacular, held in Reggio Calabria at Christmas 2008, in which the Choir ranked third with the Song “‘A ricchizza d’u mundu” whose text is by Nicodemo Ferraro, President of the Association and the music of Maestro Alessandro Tisano, also son of our land (Monasterace). Another unpublished piece, a sign of great attachment to St. Nicodemus, is the hymn of the same name whose text is by N. Ferraro and the music of another daughter of Mammola, Raffaella Portolese, Teacher collaborator at the Teatro Regio in Turin and esteemed pianist and composer from the world music scene. Over the years, various conductors and organists have alternated with the direction of the choir; in order of time: Michelangelo Fazzari and Giusy Zangari; Maria Grazia Scarfò, Antonio Sgambelluri, Giuseppe Papaleo, thanks to whom the Association has been able to enrich its curriculum more and more and improve its performance. It is currently directed by Chiara Ferraro.