Seraphic Fire’s upcoming Candlelight program introduces audiences to guest conductor Arianne Abela, a dynamic artist whose work blends musical excellence with a deep belief in the power of community through song. For Abela, conducting is more than guiding singers through a score. It is about creating a shared experience where music, space, and audience come together in a meaningful way.
Her debut with Seraphic Fire places her at the center of one of the ensemble’s most immersive programs of the season.
A Long Admiration for Seraphic Fire
Abela has admired Seraphic Fire for years. She has attended performances and followed the ensemble’s artistic work under founding Artistic Director Patrick Dupre Quigley.
“I have long admired the work of Seraphic Fire and Patrick’s vision,” she says. “I have been to a number of stunning performances by the ensemble.”
Now stepping onto the podium herself, she looks forward to collaborating with the artists who make the ensemble one of the most respected vocal groups in the country.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside some of the most talented singers in the country and am humbled to be at the helm,” she explains. “I know these singers will teach me so much.”
Music Inspired by Nature
The Candlelight program explores themes of water, landscape, and the forces of nature. For Abela, those themes hold personal meaning.
“Like many people, I have found great solace in both nature and music,” she says. “What better way to immerse an audience in a full body experience than to explore repertoire that reflects both the beauty of our world and the power of nature.”
The program includes music spanning centuries, from Gregorian chant to contemporary choral works. Abela sees a clear connection between them.
“The human voice is the thread that connects all of these pieces,” she explains. “Whether it is the simplicity of chant or the complex textures of contemporary music, the voice remains the same instrument capable of expressing awe, reverence, and wonder.”
Creating an Immersive Musical Space
The Candlelight program transforms the performance space into an environment designed for deep listening. The absence of instruments places the human voice at the center of the experience.
“The candlelit environment heightens the audience’s awareness of subtle vocal colors, harmonies, and textures,” Abela says. “Sometimes those sounds resemble elements of nature like wind, water, or birdsong.”
She begins the concert with Gregorian chant, followed by Kodály’s Mountain Nights, a wordless depiction of mountain landscapes.
“My hope is that those opening sounds allow the audience to settle into the atmosphere of the space,” she explains. “Listeners can relax, breathe, and become fully present with the music.”
Working with Exceptional Artists
For any conductor, working with a professional ensemble of this caliber brings unique possibilities.
“With singers of this level, the music can move forward quickly,” Abela says. “It allows us to dig deeper into the repertoire.”
She describes the experience with a sense of excitement.
“I liken it to switching cars to a Ferrari. Suddenly, anything is possible.”
Music as Community
Abela’s career has been shaped by the belief that choral music brings people together. The absence of singing during the pandemic reinforced that belief.
“We experienced a real loss when choral singing disappeared during Covid,” she reflects. “Choral music is community building at its core.”
Her goal as a conductor is to create performances where the audience feels part of that shared experience.
“My hope is that listeners feel a sense of connection with the artists and with the music.”
A Personal Journey into Music
Abela’s path to conducting began with a deeply personal story.
She was born without her left leg and most of the fingers on her hands. As a child, her grandfather encouraged her parents to enroll her in the San Francisco Girls Chorus.
“That experience changed everything,” she says. “Music became my refuge in a world where I often felt different.”
She initially planned to study government in college while continuing to sing. But when her conductor once asked her to lead a rehearsal, she discovered a new calling.
“My hands, which I often tried to hide, suddenly became the medium through which music came alive,” she recalls. “It was a freeing and beautiful experience.”
Family, Music, and a Life in Motion
Today, Abela balances an active conducting career with raising three children alongside her husband, who is also a musician.
Their family life often blends travel, rehearsal schedules, and musical exploration.
“Our kids have come with us to places like Prague, Greece, Raleigh, Portland, and Newfoundland,” she says. “It is sometimes chaotic, but we would not have it any other way.”
Music remains at the center of their home life.
“We gather around the piano and sing together,” she says. “The joy, the singing, the laughter, and even the chaos are part of what makes it so meaningful.”
Looking Ahead to Candlelight
For Abela, the Candlelight program offers an opportunity to create a moment of reflection and connection through music.
“My hope is that audiences leave feeling moved, grounded, and reflective,” she says. “That they reconnect with the beauty, mystery, and power of the natural world.”
Her debut with Seraphic Fire promises to bring that vision to life.
Join Us for Candlelight
Candlelight will be performed in four South Florida venues:
- Thursday, March 19 at 7:00 PM | Moorings Presbyterian Church, Naples
- Friday, March 20 at 7:30 PM | St. Philip’s Episcopal, Coral Gables
- Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 PM | All Saints Episcopal, Ft. Lauderdale
- Sunday, March 22 at 4:00 PM | St. Gregory’s Episcopal, Boca Raton
Tickets are available at seraphicfire.org/tickets or by calling 305.285.9060.
