ISU choir heads to England
For the Idaho State University chamber choir, a dream is about to come true.
The choir is taking a 13-day tour, singing in different locations throughout Scotland and England.
The tour costs about $4,600, but ISU and the College of the Arts is funding part of it. Those going on the trip still have to come up with about $3,000 altogether. But the choir said the trip will be worth every penny.
“We cannot replace an experience like this,” said Scott Anderson, the choir director.
While on the tour, the choir will be singing in places where some of their music was composed or written about. And it’s all in countries rich with musical history.
“Great Britain is probably the pre-eminent culture country in the world that has a choral tradition,” Anderson said. “And to join that tradition and experience that sound is literally a once-in-a-lifetime sort of experience.”
The choir won’t be performing in just any venue. It will be performing in famous cathedrals such as St. Giles in Edinburgh, St. Nicholas Cathedral in Newcastle and Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford.
While at Christ Church Cathedral, ISU’s group will have the chance to sit in on rehearsals of the world-famous Christ Church Cathedral Choir.
The whole group is excited for the experience.
“It’s one of those speechless moments,” said Meena Hijazi, who’s going on the choir tour for the first time. “I’ve heard so many of their stuff and it’s, well I honestly don’t have words. I’m too excited about it but it’s going to be a beautiful experience.”
Anderson said he has had the opportunity to see the Christ Church Cathedral Choir once before, but it wasn’t with his choir students so he’s looking forward to seeing it again.
“To actually be there with my group will be an extraordinary, extraordinary experience,” Anderson said.
Lindsey Beckstead is a first-year choir student and she said she couldn’t think of a better way to learn more about music.
“It’s a little intimidating, but I’m so excited to hear them sing and it’s going to be an awesome opportunity,” she said.
Natalia Lauk, the pianist for the choir, said it will be her first European trip, and she’s just as excited as the singers.
“It’s absolutely a unique opportunity, which you cannot pay money and get to do this,” Lauk said. “You cannot buy yourself a place to sing with the choir. You have to invest your time and your talent in this. I think they should absolutely have this opportunity.”
Anderson said the benefit to performing in old cathedrals is that the reverberations are longer. That means notes will echo longer, which Anderson said makes a completely different sound. He said this trip will be a learning experience for them all.
The choir leaves May 9 and returns May 21.
