Choir Val San Martino was founded in the spring of 1969 in Cisano Bergamasco by some 25 young men of various social origin, linked together by the pleasure and willingness of singing in friendship. The Maestro Elio Papini took the burden of melting those rough voices. However the seed was planted and the long and gratifying path of Coro Val San Martino began. The initial list of songs refers to the popular SATs one: they talk of war, love, nature. Regional folk songs of old tradition so are kept alive.

In 1974, Elio Papini, due to health problems, passes the baton to Father Antonio Raimondi. The repertoire grows with religious hymns, folk songs from other regions, up to classic pieces.

Choir activities become more and more intense. A first album is recorded, contacts with foreign choirs are taken, leading to the first international exchanges: Germany, Norway and Jugoslavia.

In 1984, again, the director Father Antonio Raimondi, due to age limits, passes the baton to the current Maestro, Valter Sala.

A phase of settlement and study follows this change of direction in the choir. In fact, along with the traditional folk repertoire, author’s excerpts and arrangements are being added, making the list of titles extremely various, spanning from “alpine” and mountain songs to folk pieces both national and international, up to spiritual and sacred music. The patient but constant and competent direction of Maestro Valter Sala makes Choir Val San Martino growing and developing, allows it to become conscious of its ability, opens to it wide horizons with new interpretative spaces.

So, after years of hard work, the choir is growing, acquiring and conquering an own, unique personality, becoming not only a renowned one, but also the “ambassador” of its home town, Cisano Bergamasco, of the San Martino Valley, of Bergamo and, to some extend, of Italy.

In fact, in addition to the participation to important regional as well as national reviews and contests, to TV and radio programs, the choir has extended its commitments to the whole nation and abroad.