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ULV Chamber Singers posed in front of the historic Kohl\u2019s Fountain at Prague Castle in the Czech Republic in 2024, while experiencing an impactful opportunity performing across Europe and engaging with new cultures in. (ULV Photo\/Claudia Gonzalez).<\/p>\n
Students prepare medieval music for historic church performances while working to fund a $30,000 tour<\/p>\n
The University of La\u00a0Verne Chamber Singers are preparing to take their music overseas, but they still need to close a funding gap to make the trip possible.<\/p>\n
The 26-voice ensemble is working to raise $30,000 to support an international tour through Germany and Austria. The group is set to perform in historic venues including St. Stephen\u2019s Cathedral, Mirabell Gardens, St. Michael\u2019s Church and at the renowned Peter and Paul Festival, one of Europe\u2019s largest cultural celebrations.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll proceeds will go directly towards student travel funds,\u201d said Clarissa Shan, director of choral activities and vocal studies. \u201cThis helps us get airplane tickets, rent transportation, and ultimately make this experience accessible to all students.\u201d<\/p>\n
That accessibility is critical. \u201cIf we didn\u2019t have these scholarships, I would only be able to bring people who could pay,\u201d Shan said. \u201cIt\u2019s not equitable. This is a lifetime educational experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
For this tour, students are preparing a program that reaches back centuries. That includes medieval and early sacred music which they will perform in spaces where many of these compositions were originally sung.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not just learning notes and rhythms,\u201d said Shan. \u201cWe\u2019re studying the history, language, and style of this music so students can perform it in a way that connects to where it came from.\u201d<\/p>\n
For students, the stakes are personal. Junior theatre arts major Nathan Terrazas says financial support through academic scholarships has shaped his entire college experience. \u201cIt means that I\u2019m able to have an education,\u201d he said. \u201cWithout the scholarship, I wouldn\u2019t be able to attend a four-year university or participate in theater and music.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After taking part in performances in Prague and Pilsen, Czech Republic, and Bretten Germany in 2024, Terrazas knows firsthand the impact an opportunity like this can have.<\/p>\n
Lauren Sandoval, junior kinesiology major, put it more directly: \u201cI probably wouldn\u2019t even be at school. There\u2019s just no way to afford it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, as they prepare to step into some of Europe\u2019s most historic spaces, the opportunity before them is more than performance. It\u2019s about access and the chance for every voice in the ensemble to be heard on a global stage. With the community\u2019s support, this tour becomes more than a trip. It becomes a defining moment in each student\u2019s education, one that will resonate long after the final note fades.<\/p>\n