BY: KAYLIE CORDA '20
After almost a year of working with a professional choir tour company on Long Island, 21 weeks of intensive rehearsals, and a lot of fundraising, the Union College Choir achieved a major goal: a nine-day concert tour in Europe.
In the 222 years since Union College was founded, the choir has traveled to Europe three times. The first time was in 1990, when Prof. Hugh Allen Wilson took them to Greece. In 2001, Prof. Dianne McMullen and the choir traveled to Great Britain where they performed at cathedrals and churches in London, Stratford-upon-Avon, Salisbury, and Ely.
This year’s European choir tour, also organized and directed by McMullen, went to Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. They performed at Salzburg Cathedral, Melk Abbey, St. Michael’s Church in Mondsee, St. Peter’s Church in Vienna, and St. Nicholas Church in Prague. Community members and friends from as far away as Arizona who toured with the Choir brought the group to almost 60 people. Included were visits to many historical sites such as Mozart’s homes in Salzburg, Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Prague Castle and other venues.
This weekend, the choir will perform a concert featuring pieces from their tour and new works learned during spring term. This celebratory concert will take place on Saturday, May 20, at 5 p.m. in Memorial Chapel, as part of ReUnion Weekend festivities. McMullen will direct the choir and Elinore Farnum will accompany on the piano and organ. The performance, free and open to the public, includes a mixture of sacred and secular music.