🎵 Ave Maria – By Schubert. Sung by Lenia

🎵 Ave Maria by Schubert…A Prayer Sung from the heart

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🌹 A Wedding, A Blessing

When I first studied Ave Maria by Schubert with my Italian vocal coach, I was still learning to trust my voice with sacred repertoire. Around that time, I received a special invitation: to sing this beloved prayer at a friend’s wedding.

But this wasn’t just any ceremony—it was a Greek Orthodox wedding, and Ave Maria is not part of our traditional liturgy. Out of deep respect, we asked the priest for permission. He granted it without hesitation.

After the ceremony, the priest approached me with kind, heartfelt words. He told me how moved he was by the performance—and in that moment, my anxiety simply melted away. I had done something meaningful.

I refused to be paid. The bride’s family were close friends, and it felt like a privilege to help make her dream come true. She had always imagined walking down the aisle to Ave Maria, sung by a soprano.

The next day, a gorgeous gift and a beautiful bunch of flowers arrived at my door—a beautiful token of gratitude that I still treasure.

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🕯 A Farewell in Song

Not long after, I was asked to sing Ave Maria again—this time at a funeral for a dear friend’s father.

At first, I hesitated. Even refused . It took me hours to accept the idea. I was afraid I would be too moved to do it justice. The thought of standing there, emotionally exposed, offering music at such a holy moment — it overwhelmed me.

But the family insisted. And insisted … and insisted until I could no longer refuse .

Once more we had to get permission from the Church which of course was granted.

I sang — This time again from the heart, but through the tears —I must admit this was a different feeling as every note carried reverence and serenity…

…and then…

Then they all came to me: the wife who had just lost her beloved husband, the daughter, the son. The Congregation…They were all in tears, but their words were filled with gratitude.

“Your voice made our burden feel lighter,” the daughter whispered.

“We will always remember this moment,” said the wife.

“It was a blessing,” said the brother.

The people in attendance were deeply moved. Many said the music gave them comfort, even lifted their grief for a moment. Once Again, I declined payment.

And once again, a beautiful gesture of appreciation arrived—a silver candlestick that still sits in my home, quietly reminding me of that day.

That day, I understood a quiet truth my tracherxwkayd insisted upon.

A singer must carry the emotion of the music and send it to the hearts of the listeners , without letting it drown their own. One must stir the soul of the audience without letting your own be that shaken so it could cloud the discipline, and the purpose the music deserves.

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🕊 A Moment Remembered

Some time later, I was at a dinner party when a close friend—struggling with Alzheimer’s—took my hand. With clarity that surprised us both, she said:

“That was one of your best performances ever.”

It took us a moment to realize what she meant. But when we did, it was Ave Maria.

I’ll never forget that.

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🎥 you may listen to my Ave Maria recording if you like.

📺 Click to watch on YouTube

https://youtu.be/lTbk5GR8c0A?si=T-CezmaY8Vxmror5

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💬 Final Thoughts

There are songs you perform, and then there are songs that perform through you. Ave Maria is that for me.

“When words are not enough, sacred music becomes a true prayer itself.”

If this moved you, please share it—or let me know in the comments. Music connects us in ways words never can.

Thank you for listening.

— Lenia

Disclaimer:

These are true stories that were written by the author and thoughtfully edited and formatted with the assistance of AI for clarity, structure, and emotional pacing.