Hannah Anderson on European Tour with BVU Concert Chorale

2012 Jun 6

Hannah Anderson a junior arts management-theater major from Boone, along with the Buena Vista University (BVU) Concert Chorale, left Monday, May 28 on a European tour and will return to Storm Lake on June 6. This is the choir program's fourth European Tour since 2003 under the direction of Dr. Paula Keeler, assistant professor of music.

Hannah Anderson was accompanied by four BVU faculty and staff members, and other friends of the university.

The European tours are offered every three years. Under Keeler's direction, the Choir began the tradition with a tour to London and Paris in 2003, traveled to Germany and Austria in 2006, performed in Italy in 2009 and this year returned to London and Paris.

On Tuesday evening, May 29, the Chorale performed at the American Cathedral in Paris which also hosted a BVU choir concert in 2003. On Sunday morning, June 3 - during the central weekend of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II - the Chorale performed at St. Leonard's, Shoreditch.

The Chorale also plans to visit the Louvre, Normandy Beach, the Eiffel Tower, the Cathedral at Chartres and Versailles while in Paris. In London, the group will visit the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Cathedral, St. Paul's Cathedral, Oxford University, art galleries, Stonehenge and the Natural History Museum.

A number of students in the Chorale have received Dean's Fellows stipends to help subsidize the cost of the trip. Other funds to support students' travel have come from the Tour budget and Choir accounts at BVU.

The BVU Concert Choir tours each spring to major cities in the U.S. and sings recruiting concerts at schools and church services. In the 14 years, Keeler has directed the BVU Choir, students have had the opportunity to visit and sing in six American cities and in Europe. Tours at BVU are elected by choir members and are not required as in many larger university programs.