AU Chorale journeys to Ireland in first overseas tour
May 25, 2023
The Aurora University Chorale raised their voices in song across Ireland for a week in May in the first-ever choir tour abroad in the history of the university.
The students performed in churches and cathedrals throughout the Emerald Isle, including at St. Mary's Church of the Sloes in Killarney; St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church in Galway; St. Patrick's College Chapel at Maynooth University; and at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin. They also attended a master class with members of Ireland’s famous Anúna professional choir.
The group of 41 singers, representing majors from across the university, spent the past year preparing their program.
“The concert venues in Ireland were so extraordinary, that it inspired our students to reach new levels of musical communication that thrilled everyone in the room,” said the Roger Parolini Distinguished Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities Lisa Fredenburgh. “The voyage helped us to reach a musical pinnacle that we dreamed about, and all of us are changed.”
Students also had the opportunity to meet and perform concerts with other choirs throughout the trip, including a joint concert with St. Mary's Church Choir in Maynooth as well as a concert with the Galway Sings Project women’s choir and Männersache, a German men’s choir, in Galway.
“We went to Ireland to spread a message of love through our music, but little did I know that music would reveal so much to me in return,” said elementary education major Bridget Butler ’24. “This Ireland tour made me fall in love with music all over again.”