More than 150 musicians from across Tenerife are preparing for what will be one of the most significant events in the island’s recent history.
Members of 37 different music bands from Tenerife have joined forces to create a special ensemble that will provide the music for the papal Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV on 12 June at the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
A Unique Musical Collaboration
The first joint rehearsals recently took place at the headquarters of the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra in Santa Cruz, bringing together musicians from the Banda Insular de Música de Tenerife and several of the island’s leading choral groups.
Participating choirs include:
• Orfeón La Paz of La Laguna
• Members of La Epifanía choir from the Parish of La Concepción
• Coral Novae Vocal Ensemble
The project has united musicians of all ages and backgrounds, from experienced performers with decades of service to young musicians beginning their careers.
Bringing Together Generations of Talent
Among those taking part are long-serving members of the Banda Insular de Música de Tenerife, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
The ensemble also includes young performers such as 17-year-old bassoonist Mateo, alongside veteran musicians who have spent decades participating in Tenerife’s musical life.
The scale of the collaboration reflects the importance of the occasion, which will mark the first papal Mass ever celebrated in Tenerife by a reigning pope.
Music Prepared Especially for the Occasion
The programme will feature a selection of liturgical works and specially composed pieces created for the visit.
Among the highlights is:
• Alza la Mirada al Amor, composed specifically for the papal celebration by writer Eduardo Duque and organist Juan Luis Bardón
The piece will serve as one of the central musical elements of the liturgy.
The choir and orchestra will also perform other sacred works throughout the Mass, including music linked to the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which coincides with the date of the papal visit.
A Family Tradition of Music
The musical direction of the project has been entrusted to Mauro Fariña, who comes from a family with deep roots in Tenerife’s musical community.
Several members of his family are involved in the performance, including his mother Silvia, who contributed musical arrangements for the event, and his sister Irene, whose composition Ad Lucem (“Towards the Light”) will be performed before the Pope’s arrival.
A Historic Day for Tenerife
For many of the musicians and choristers involved, the event represents a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Some participants have previously attended papal events in Rome, but for most, this will be the first opportunity to take part directly in a Mass led by a pope on their own island.
As rehearsals continue ahead of 12 June, excitement is growing among the performers who will help provide the soundtrack to what promises to be a truly historic day for Tenerife.