This month the Gustavus Choir, the premier choral ensemble at Gustavus Adolphus College, will embark on a 20-day international tour of Portugal and Spain as part of its 75th anniversary year. The 66-voice choir will tour and learn about the two countries from Jan. 11 through Jan. 30.
The trip is unique in that Gustavus’ international concert tours combine touring with an academic component. Students spend two weeks prior to the trip in class on campus where they learn about the art, architecture, food, language, history, religion, and culture of the area. During the tour the learning continues with Hayden Duncan, associate professor of Spanish, providing on-site teaching.
Another unique aspect of this particular trip is that the choir will participate in Mass at several of Spain and Portugal’s historic cathedrals. The tour also includes five full concert performances in cathedrals in Lisbon, Seville, Granada, and Madrid; sharing three with noteworthy university choirs. The choir’s tour will conclude with a homecoming concert performance at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10 in Christ Chapel at Gustavus.
Directed by Gregory Aune, the Gustavus Choir tours annually in January or February. They perform in churches, in concert halls, and at universities throughout the world. In its 75-year history, the choir has been on 12 international tours, performed for the King and Queen of Sweden, premiered commissioned works by noteworthy international and American composers, and recently was featured at the prestigious American Choral Director’s Association North Central Convention.
Aune is in his twelfth year as conductor of the Gustavus Choir. He is a highly respected clinician and in 1999 he worked with choral directors in South Africa as part of the choir’s tour. He regularly serves as an adjudicator and guest conductor at choral festivals throughout the Midwest.
The Gustavus Choir is one of 30 musical ensembles at the college and one of three touring ensembles that alternate traveling abroad.
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