Church wedding musicians in Syracuse and its province

Syracuse was one of the largest cities of the ancient world, and you can still feel it walking through Ortigia: an island of golden stone surrounded by the sea, where a Greek temple became a cathedral. All around are the baroque towns of the Val di Noto, white beaches and fishing villages. If you are looking for church wedding musicians in Syracuse, Maestro Ilarion, tenor, sings the Ave Maria and the nuptial Mass chants in Ortigia, Noto and throughout the province.

Picture sunset in Piazza Duomo, Ortigia

Picture the most beautiful square in Sicily in the late afternoon. The stone of the palazzi turns the colour of honey. Guests walk across the bridge, pass the Fountain of Arethusa with its papyrus plants, and gather in front of Syracuse Cathedral.

On entering, guests notice something extraordinary: along the aisles stand the Doric columns of the temple of Athena, built into the walls of the church. Twenty-five centuries of prayer in the same place. The Maestro has agreed the whole programme with the parish priest and the organist, and the tenor's voice enters that space with respect.

The bride walks between the ancient columns. During Mass, every chant resonates on the stone. Then comes the Ave Maria, and in that church which was first a temple and then a cathedral, the prayer seems to bring all the centuries together.

Outside, the square is lit by lanterns. Everyone walks towards the sea, along the Levante seafront or the Marina, for sunset photos. The reception is at a masseria among olive trees, a villa at Fontane Bianche or a palazzo in Noto.

The music of the nuptial Mass

• Bride's entrance, with a piece chosen with you.
• Alleluia and liturgical chants, agreed with the parish priest and the organist.
• Offertory and communion: Panis Angelicus, Ave Verum or other sacred chants.
• Ave Maria by Schubert, Gounod or Caccini.
• Recessional with a joyful piece.
• On request, a surprise choir of friends and family, prepared by the Maestro.

The churches of Syracuse and the towns of the province

In Syracuse and Ortigia: Syracuse Cathedral, the Church of Santa Lucia alla Badia on the same square, the Basilica of Santa Lucia al Sepolcro and the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Lacrime.

In the Val di Noto: Noto with the Cathedral of San Nicolò and its baroque staircase, Palazzolo Acreide with the churches of San Sebastiano and San Paolo, Avola, Rosolini, Canicattini Bagni, Ferla, Buccheri, Sortino and Floridia.

On the coast: Marzamemi with its little square by the sea, Pachino, Portopalo di Capo Passero, Fontane Bianche, Ognina, Brucoli, Augusta and Melilli.

Further north, the Maestro sings throughout the province of Catania.

From the church to the reception

Maestro Ilarion is a tenor and pianist: after the ceremony he can accompany the aperitif and reception with elegant live music, in masserie, seaside villas or the baroque palazzi of Noto and Ortigia.

Where to find wedding musicians near Siracusa

If you are looking for professional wedding musicians near Siracusa, Maestro Ilarion, tenor and pianist, sings in person in Siracusa and Ortigia and across the province: Noto, Avola, Palazzolo Acreide, Marzamemi and Portopalo di Capo Passero. In church, whether it is Siracusa Cathedral or the Church of Santa Lucia alla Badia, a single musician brings voice and organ to the whole celebration, and the pieces are agreed with the parish priest.

Live wedding music does not stop at the church: voice and piano can also accompany the aperitif, dinner and first dance, in the masserie, the villas by the sea or the Baroque palazzi of Noto and Ortigia. To choose calmly, read the guide Live wedding music: how to find professional musicians.

Surprise flash mob in Siracusa

Friends and family can prepare a surprise choir for the couple: Maestro Ilarion creates the sung flash mob in Siracusa, writes the parts, leads rehearsals remotely too and arranges things with the parish priest. There is also a page on the wedding flash mob in Siracusa. He also organises flash mobs for marriage proposals, anniversaries, birthdays, companies and events: read the guide Sung flash mob organiser.

For your date, fill in the request for church ceremony music.

Getting married somewhere else? Here are all the places where I sing, from Sicily to Lake Como.