How do you qualify for European Chorale?
Any persons who participate in either Bel Canto Singers or the Hesston College Chorale during the 2007-2008 academic year may choose to become part of the European Chorale which will tour France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands over the month-long tour this coming May. These individual choirs disband in March, and members from each form the European Chorale which rehearses daily from 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Latest schedule
An itinerary of the European Chorale Tour appears on the college web site. We will leave for Europe on Tuesday, May 6. The return date to the U.S. following the tour will be June 3.
Points of interest
The 2008 Tour will include stops in some of the major cities of Europe including Paris, Milan, Munich, Cologne, and Amsterdam. Starting in Paris, highlights will include such famous sights as the Eiffel Tower, the d’Orsay and Louvre museums, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Paris is the city of lights, and it will be an unforgettable way to begin the tour! All of Switzerland is quite beautiful, but no place is quite as stunning as the mountain village of Wengen where we will spend two nights. A full day of hiking will give you time to take in the vistas of the Jungfrau mountain range. This will be our first stop in Milan since the 2000 tour. The “capital” of Northern Italy, Milan is also the financial and fashion capital of the country. Exploring the city will include seeing the impressive Duomo (Cathedral) as well as Da Vinci’s “Last Supper.” Floating down the Rhine River on a ship and looking at Medieval castles on its banks is always fun. Hope for sun that day! Germany is where ancient and modern meet in cities like Cologne, home to museums of artifacts from the time when it was an outpost of the Roman Empire, to some of the most fun shopping streets you will see in all the tour. One may think of wooden shoes, tulips, windmills and cheese when you think of the Netherlands, and you would be partly right. But you will come away from our time in this small country with warm feelings of their openness and hospitality. All along the tour, we will be staying in homes where Hesston College choirs have made favorable impressions for the past 25 years. For many congregations in Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands, a visit by the Hesston College Choir is an event that they look forward to every two years! You will enjoy their hospitality and generosity!
Cost and payment schedule
At this point we are looking at a total amount of $4395.00 for the tour. Following is a payment schedule which will put your name on board for Europe:
- Down Payment - October 18 - $500
- 2nd Payment - January 15 - $1,000
- Final Payment - March 1 - $2,895
- TOTAL - $4,395
Above price does not include noon meals, add-on airfare, souvenirs/incidentals, and passport costs.
What to do now
The first step towards a trip to Europe is to apply for your passport. Applications and instructions will be handed out at the first meeting or may be picked up in the Music Office. Please have the application process completed by November 1, 2007.