Joe Martone (Music Performance, Composition, Bass) attended the Alba Music Festival (Italy) in May as a student composer and had the chance to work with David Froom, Elliott Miles McKinley, and Jeffrey Mumford. The trip was sponsored by St. Mary's College of Maryland. At the end of the festival, he performed his composition e.e. cummings Songs with soprano Jenna Vorhees, which was very well received. Joe reports that he had the opportunity to hear a full orchestral concert almost every night in various locations around Alba - though most concerts were held in the Chiesa de San Domenico, a cathedral built in the 13th century, which is a great place for a loud orchestra! There were many guest composers and performers including the Orchestra of the State of Romania and the Orchestra of the Royal Scottish Academy