Today’s meeting is with Christopher Avendano, “Pete” to his friends. He has been a music teacher for about thirty years at the Genevieve Parish School in Panorama City, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. With the “Genevieve Valiant Voices”, the school’s senior choir, Pete participated with extraordinary success in the latest edition of the festival.
Good morning, Pete! First, tell us a little about your extensive teaching experience.
Good morning! I must say that in my thirty years of teaching, I have had the privilege of teaching music to students of all ages: I truly consider it a blessing to share the gift of music with so many people at different stages of life. And the repertoire I have taught has been as varied as the singers: from nursery rhymes, to two-part songs, to classical choral literature, to masses, motets, and oratorios.
With my elementary school choirs, I’ve always believed in the importance of challenging students with a repertoire that challenges their abilities. My philosophy has remained unchanged: never underestimate what children can achieve! When you set high goals for them and support them with care and commitment, they often surpass what they even thought possible.
Over the years, you’ve moved on to high school students, where we imagine the work is different.
Of course, it’s more in-depth work: at this level, in fact, my focus had to shift to developing deeper musical skills: interpretation, vocal technique, ensemble awareness, and expressive performance.
I must say that I’m fortunate to work in a school with strong administrative support and parents who believe in the value of choral education. Thanks to this foundation, the choir was able to set ambitious goals right from the start!
After two years of intense work, we participated in international competitions and won in our categories. The students have also traveled to New Zealand, Italy, and China, performing in some of the world’s most iconic venues: the Vatican, Milan’s Duomo, New York’s Carnegie Hall, and Beijing’s Forbidden City Concert Hall, as well as participating in renowned festivals.
In short, your passion for teaching remains the same, no matter how old your choir members are!
Whether it’s teaching a four-year-old their first song or guiding teenagers through complex choral works, my goal has always been the same: to help children discover their potential, experience the joy of making music, and carry that joy with them throughout their lives!
Tell us about your musical tastes: who’s your favorite composer, classical or modern?
I appreciate a wide range of musical genres. On Saturday mornings, while gardening, I love listening to pop and rock. In the evenings, I often devote myself to opera and symphonic music.
I grew up in a church choir, so religious music holds a special place in my heart. Among sacred composers, I’m particularly drawn to the spirituality of Palestrina, Bach, Mozart, and Mendelssohn.
An alien arrives on our planet and asks you what you think are the five best pieces of music ever composed: what’s your answer?
I love so many pieces, but if I had to choose, here are the five works at the top of my list: Palestrina’s “Missa Papae Marcelli”, with its purity and timeless balance; Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto, one of the most powerful and expressive works ever written; Pietro Mascagni’s Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana; Morten Lauridsen’s motet “O Magnum Mysterium”, a masterpiece of choral writing; and finally, I’ve always been moved by Ennio Morricone’s famous “Theme d’amore”, from the film “Cinema Paradiso” (though this melody was actually composed by his son Andrea, editor’s note).
We’ve seen your choir perform at our concerts, and we have to say it’s a truly impressive group! Can you tell us how many days a week you rehearse? And how are they organized?
Rehearsals take place twice a week; however, as a festival approaches, I organize additional rehearsals to hone our performances and reach the level of perfection we aspire to.
Final question: you participated in the last edition of our festival; what do you think of this event?
I’ve participated in many festivals around the world, and the Alta Pusteria Festival remains one of my favorites: it embodies everything I look for in a choral festival! There’s something truly special about seeing choirs from all over the world come together and share the beauty of music.
One of my favorite moments was the large parade of all the choirs in San Candido, followed by the performance of a common piece. It was a powerful message of peace: music can unite. Truly uniting people of different cultures and languages!
