The Hendricks Chapel Choir will embark on a two-week, three-country musical and
culture tour of South America on Monday, May 11.
The 41-member choir, ranging from first-year students to graduate students, will
perform a program of American choral music and South American pieces at venues
in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. A website,
http://hendricks.syr.edu/choir, has been
created to follow the progress of the tour; it will feature photos and reflections from
choir members as they travel.
The choir will perform under the direction of John F. Warren, director of choral
activities in Syracuse University's College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) and
the choir's conductor. The choir will be accompanied by Kola Owolabi, assistant
professor in VPA and University organist, and on percussion by Joshua Dekaney,
affiliate artist in VPA.
Also accompanying the choir on tour will be George Athanas; Bridget Budwey,
business manager in Hendricks Chapel; Elisa Dekaney, assistant professor of music
in VPA; Bridget Moriarty; Kelly Sprinkle, interim dean of Hendricks Chapel; and
Jennifer Warren.
The choir embarks on an international tour every four years so that each member of
the choir has the opportunity to tour internationally during their time at the
University. The choir toured Poland and the Czech Republic in 2001 and China in
2005.
For its South American tour, the choir will perform a program of 20th-century
compositions, American hymns, American folksongs, African American spirituals
and gospel music during concerts in Santiago and Vina Del Mar, Chile; Rosario and
Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Colonia and Montevideo, Uruguay. Each will conclude
with the choir performing "America the Beautiful" and "The Lord Bless You and
Keep You" in Spanish.
"This will be, of course, an amazing experience for the students," says Warren. "Just
seeing the places we will see and experiencing different cultures is enriching. But the
chance to sing in the beautiful venues where we will perform and to share our gifts of
music with the Chilean, Argentine and Uruguayan people is life changing. Three of
our concerts will be combined performances with local choirs, so that increases the
chance to relate and communicate on a personal level."
During their time in South America, the choir members will also soak in some of the
history and culture of the countries they visit. The choir will return to the United
States on May 25.
