-
About
Fidelity & ExcellenceThomas Aquinas College is unique among American colleges and universities, offering a faithfully Catholic education comprised entirely of the Great Books and classroom discussions.
-
A Liberating Education
Truth MattersTruth, and nothing less, sets men free; and because truth is both natural and supernatural, the College’s curriculum aims at both natural and divine wisdom.
-
A Catholic Life
Under the Light of FaithThe intellectual tradition and moral teachings of the Catholic Church infuse the whole life of Thomas Aquinas College, illuminating the curriculum and the community alike.
-
Admission & Aid
Is TAC Right for You?Do you enjoy grappling with complex questions? Are you willing to engage in discussions about difficult concepts, with the truth as your ultimate goal?
-
Students & Parents
Mind, Body & SpiritThere is always something to do at TAC — something worthwhile, something fulfilling, and something geared toward ever-greater spiritual and intellectual growth.
-
Alumni & Careers
What Can You Do with a Liberal Education?Nothing speaks more to the versatility of the College’s academic program than the good that our alumni are doing throughout the Church and the world.
Floriani Choral Group to “Come Home,” Bring Sacred Music to TAC-New England
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
For more information, please contact:
Chris Weinkopf, Executive Director of College Relations
805-421-5926 | pr@thomasaquinas.edu
Northfield, Massachusetts — Having sung at Masses and concerts in shrines, basilicas, and cathedrals in over a dozen U.S. states and in Italy, worldwide on EWTN, and, most recently, at this summer’s National Eucharistic Congress, the men’s choral group Floriani will enjoy a homecoming of sorts on November 22, when it performs at Thomas Aquinas College, New England.
Although TAC students founded the group on the California campus nearly a decade ago, November’s concert will mark the first time the foursome has ever visited the Northfield, Massachusetts, campus, which opened its doors in 2019. “We are delighted to come and sing for the New England campus!” says member Thomas Quackenbush (’14).
As students, Mr. Quackenbush, Giorgio Navarini (’17), Joseph Daly (’19), and Graham Crawley (’20) sang both on and off campus for liturgies, workshops, and feast days. After graduating, they pursued various paths individually until 2021, when they re-formed and decided to begin singing professionally.
Since then, Floriani has gone on to perform and record sacred music and conduct retreats for church choirs, all to introduce Catholics to the Church’s rich heritage of beautiful liturgical music. They also provide instruction in Gregorian chant through their Chant School podcast, a highly successful online masterclass for those interested in learning the ancient art on their own.
In July, the group appeared at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, where it sang traditional and original sacred music for over 50,000 worshippers during Holy Hour and Adoration. The next day, the members sang again at a Mass attended by some 8,000 faithful.
“We are especially grateful to Floriani for taking the time to visit us,” remarks Dr. Daniel Gutschke, head of the New England lecture committee. “They have a busy fall schedule, so it is a great blessing that they will be able to perform for the community here.”
Floriani will perform a mix of traditional Gregorian chant pieces, as well as some of the group’s original compositions. The concert, part of the 2024-25 St. Vincent de Paul Lecture and Concert Series, is open, free of charge, to all alumni and friends of the college.
MORE NEWS FROM THE COLLEGE
- Fall Open House: An Intellectual and Spiritual Retreat for High School Students!
- VC Reporter: “Thomas Aquinas Bucks the Trend”
- Journalist Reflects on Sir Anthony Hopkins’ 2012 Visit to Thomas Aquinas College
- Dr. Alexander Pruss Ponders God’s Existence with Mathematics
- Observing the Heavens with the Sophomore Star Project
# # #
About Thomas Aquinas College
With campuses in California and Massachusetts, Thomas Aquinas College has developed over the last half century a solid reputation for academic excellence in the United States and abroad. It is highly ranked by secular organizations, such as The Princeton Review and U. S. News, as well as Catholic guides, including the Cardinal Newman Society and the National Catholic Register. The college offers one, four-year, classical curriculum that spans the major arts and sciences. Instead of reading textbooks, students study the original works of the greatest thinkers in Western civilization — the Great Books — in all the major disciplines. Rather than listen to lectures, they work through these texts in small, rigorous classroom discussions. The academic life of the college is conducted under the light of the Catholic faith and flourishes within a close-knit community, supported by a vibrant spiritual life. Alumni consistently excel in the many world-class institutions at which they pursue graduate degrees in fields such as law, medicine, business, theology, and education.
-->