This Sunday at 20:00, La Laguna Cathedral will resonate with the melodies of the Novae Vocal Group as they present “Inter Incerta Lux,” a choral concert that also features the Nobis Vocal Ensemble. The same concert will be held on 13 July in the church of San Francisco de Asís, Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
“Inter Incerta Lux” is a recital of sacred music designed as a guided experience to illustrate the profound impact of art on mental health. Under the direction of maestro Roxana Schmunk, the performance will include works by contemporary composers like Ēriks Ešenvalds, Jake Runestad, and Ola Gjeilo, alongside classics such as Gounod/Bach’s “Ave Maria.”
Roxana Schmunk, the driving force behind this project, has long been involved in music and health initiatives. She emphasizes that this concert aims to address mental health needs through the healing power of vocal music, a vision supported by the Bishopric of Tenerife and the World Health Organisation’s 2019 recommendations on the benefits of art in health.
Beyond the concerts, community singing workshops will be conducted throughout the season, continuing the project’s exploration of music’s therapeutic potential. Schmunk stresses the necessity of this concert for its participants and highlights its unique, interactive nature intended to guide the audience to a place of calm, completeness, and connection.
Given the “bleak” outlook on mental health, particularly the high suicide rates among young people in the Canary Islands, Schmunk sees this collaboration with health sectors as crucial. The concert’s repertoire is curated to foster introspection, gratitude, and reconciliation, aiming to help attendees connect spiritually, whether with God, the universe, or their inner selves.
The series will continue with a performance on 13 July in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and further concerts from 18 to 20 October at the cathedral of Getafe, the parishes of San Nicolás and Santa María la Mayor in Alcalá de Henares, and Retiro Park in Madrid.
