UMCC

UMCC
University of Montevallo Concert Choir

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Laura Thomas




The University of Montevallo 2015 Choir Tour was my first time ever being out of the country. I had no idea what to expect, but it ended up being one of the most interesting, eye-opening experiences I’ve ever had. I tend to be a planner, so as soon as I heard we were traveling to Prague, Budapest, and Vienna, I opened Google Maps… and immediately searched for coffee shops in each city. Priorities, right? As it turns out, I didn’t need to be so prepared. Even the continental breakfast in each hotel featured a swanky espresso machine. That’s one thing I noticed about European culture – no matter where you are, you can find quality things to eat, watch, or buy.

Of course, the main purpose of this trip was not to fuel my caffeine dependency… it was to sing! And we certainly did a lot of that. Every single cathedral we sang in, from the sweet little St. Lawrence in Hodonin, Czech Republic to massive, ornate St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, was beautiful to look at and just as lovely to sing in. The high ceilings and stone walls made every song ring like I had never heard it before. Each audience we sang for seemed very appreciative, smiling and thanking us even when they didn’t speak any English.

That’s one thing I loved about our time in Europe. Almost everyone we interacted with was happy to meet us and willing to help us if we needed anything, from directions to restaurant recommendations. The language barrier was harder to negotiate than I thought; you don’t normally think about how much you speak to communicate with people! Still, everyone I met was kind and obliging. In one restaurant in Hungary, the chef had prepared schnitzel (chicken or pork hammered thin and then battered and fried) for everyone in the choir, and when I explained to the waiter that I did not eat meat, he had the chef prepare some vegetable strudel just for me. I was amazed, and that’s just a small example of the hospitality of the European people we had the pleasure of meeting.

By the end of the trip, I found myself wishing I had another week. And though I returned home very tired, a little sniffly, and completely out of clean socks, I knew that I wouldn’t forget the great memories I made on this choir tour. It has made our friendships stronger and our singing better. I’m so thankful for everyone who worked hard to the choir tour possible.


Monday, July 6, 2015

Reflections from UMCC 2015 European Tour - Quincy Hall



Quincy Hall

Graduate Student, pursuing Masters of Education, School Counseling

Hometown: Saginaw, MI





Describe your expectations as you prepared for the trip - what were you particularly excited/anxious about? Did you research any of the cities or attractions?
-       I really didn’t know what to expect, really. I did a lot of reading up on the different types of cuisine that I would be exposed to, language, beliefs and perceptions, and even on general livelihood of the area. I don’t think that reading about it prepared me for the actual experience though, not in a bad way, but in a good way of experiencing a kind of culture shock, almost… seeing in first-person that there is life beyond our shores and that people do live a little differently than we do in the United States. I would have to say that I was anxious about the language and the cuisine… would be people be able to understand me and vice/versa? Would I be OK with the cuisine and live off of it for an entire week and a half? I think that I did just fine… :)

Describe your first impressions of Europe – sights, sounds, tastes, etc.

-       I was certainly blown away with the amount of history that Europeans live among. I loved how fresh and crisp the air smelled when we went outside of the airport in Prague. I love how clear the blue sky was when we got up the next morning and looked out. I loved the occasional, cool breezes that we would get over the course of our days… something that we definitely do not get much of in the summer time in Alabama. It made me think of how lucky the Europeans were to live among hundreds and hundreds of years of history, tradition, and culture, something that we only have a little bit of here in the United States, being a young country and all.

Describe similarities/differences/unique experiences in relation to the cities we visited: Prague, Hodonín, Bratislava, Budapest, Eisenstadt, Vienna.
-       I think that Austria was the most friendly of all of the countries that we visited, most definitely. Budapest was the city that we went to that was the most representative of a metro-area in the United States in my opinion and kind of had an NYC feel. Eisenstadt and Hodonin were probably the two cities that were the most similar that we visited… both are cute, smaller towns.



Favorite places?
-       I would say that my favorite country was Austria. I loved the small town feel that was emitted in Eisenstadt, the greenery, the country-side and then the nice contrast of being in Vienna, a city that has been around for hundreds and hundreds of years, being the city for music, the city where so many brilliant composers forever shaped the world of music. It was humbling being in the very room where Mozart first performed for the court in Vienna, being in Mozart’s home, and being at the Cemetery in Vienna at “Composer’s Corner" and standing right above where Schubert, Beethoven, Strauss, and my favorite composer, Brahms are all interred. It was humbling and honestly, got me pretty emotional.

Favorite food?
-       Schnitzel. DUH! :) …but wait… can GELATO be a favorite food as well? Zanoni and Zanoni is EVERYTHING in Vienna!

Favorite moments?
-       Being on the river boat, cruising the river in Budapest while having dinner and enjoying the nightscape and definitely going on Gelato runs in Vienna, for sure.

 






Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Afternoon in Slovakia, First Hours in Budapest

Group picture in town square
Hans Christian Anderson statue
After departing Hodonin, the choir made a brief stop in Bratislava, Slovakia. There, we enjoyed shopping and dining in this beautiful town before continuing to Budapest, Hungary.

Sewer Man statue

Upon arrival in Budapest, the group was given a guided tour of the Hungarian State Opera House. While some members of the group returned for an evening performance of Faust, others enjoyed a relaxing meal at the Lions Garden Hotel.

Members of the choir will be resting up as they are set to give two formal performances in addition to other activities on the itinerary.














Sunday, May 31, 2015

Hodonín, Czech Republic


Saturday, May 30, 2015

On Saturday, May 30, the Concert Choir arrived in the charming city of Hodonín, located in the Maravian region of Czech Republic. Known for its wine production and folk traditions, Hodonín was the birthplace of T. G. Masaryk, the first President of the Czechoslovak state. It was also the home of Gustav Mahler for several years.

Representatives from the choir were warmly welcomed at a reception with the town’s Vice-Mayor, Mr. Salajka, and the town’s Public Relations Deputy, Mr. Holûsek.

The evening’s concert took place at the Church of St. Lawrence, and was very well attended by people from the area.
Church of St. Lawrence, Hodonín, Czech Republic

Fountain on the square in Hodonín

L to R: LeeArron Klosterman, Dr. Roderick George, Dr. Melinda Doyle, Vice-Mayor Mr. Salajka, Public Relations Deputy Mr. Holusek, Calliope Pettis, Blane Freeman, Jesus Loyola, Sami Anselmo





 Following the concert, the choir enjoyed a three-course meal with a Folklore Dinner Show at the Templars’ Cellars in Čejkovice. We continued on to Budapest, Hungary today, after a brief stop in beautiful Bratislava, Slovakia.  While in Bratislava, the choir enjoyed free time to eat some of the local food and shop for handmade souvenirs.

Our first stop upon arrival in Budapest was the Hungarian State Opera House, where we were given a guided tour of the beautiful venue. Some choir members were fortunate enough to purchase tickets to the evening performance of Faust. Others returned to the hotel where we enjoyed a three course meal and some down time after several days of travel, sightseeing, and performing.

Friday, May 29, 2015

A Full Day in Prague

The Concert Choir had a very long Friday in Prague, starting with a walking tour of Prague Castle, which is the official residence of the President of Czech Republic. Montevallo students got the incredible experience to sing several pieces in the vast and ancient St. Vitus Cathedral.
In the evening, the choir gave a joint performance with Antifona Prague Youth Choir in historic Hlahol Concert Hall. After the performance, students exchanged thanks and several even established contacts for future visits to the city. The day ended with a river cruise along the Vltava. Just as the group was disembarking the vessel a strong rain shower passed through the city, drenching the entire group. Several minutes after finding shelter under a large structure the students began impromptu singing. One could say the choir gave a second informal performance to end the day!


The choir will leave Prague tomorrow for a long bus ride to the border town of Hodonín, which is situated in the southeast corner of Czech Republic. Check our blog again for updates!

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Itinerary

Tomorrow is the day!

Excitement is high as we prepare for our trip. Choir members returned to Montevallo yesterday for final rehearsals before our Wednesday evening departure from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, GA.

Below is a brief outline of our itinerary:

Wednesday - Thursday, May 27 & 28:
  • 11:17 p.m. - departure from Atlanta on Delta flight #84, arriving at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris at 2:00 p.m. (local time)
  • 6:15 p.m. - departure from Air France flight #1582 arriving at Prague Ruzyne International Airport at 7:50 p.m.
  • Hotel: Motel 1

Friday, May 29 - Prague
  • Tours: Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Town Square
  • Concert: Hlahol Concert Hall
  • Dinner cruise on the Vlatava River

Saturday, May 30 - Hodonin
  • Travel to Hodonin 
  • Concerts: Spa Amphitheater (informal) Church of St. Lawrence (hotel)
  • Folklore Dinner Show

Sunday,  May 21 - Budapest
  • Travel to Budapest via Bratislava
  • Tour of Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest
  • Hotel: Lion's Garden Hotel

Monday, June 1 - Budapest
  • Guided Tour of Budapest
  • Concert: Belvarosi Szent Mihaly Templom (formal)

Tuesday, June 2 - Vienna
  • Travel to Vienna via Eisenstadt
  • Tour Mozarthaus and Haus der Musik
  • Explore City Center
  • Hotel: Star Inn Hotel Wien Schonbrunn

Wednesday, June 3 - Vienna
  • Guided tour of Vienna 
  • Concert: Peterkirche Wien (formal)
  • Provide Service music for Holy Mass at Votivkirche

Thursday, June 4 - Vienna
  • Tour Schonbrunn Palace 
  • Concert: Imperial Chapel in Schonbrunn Palace (informal)

Friday, June 5 - HOME
  • 10:05 a.m.:  Depart for Paris, Air France flight #1139; arrive 10: 05 a.m.
  • 1:55 p.m.: Paris to Atlanta, Air France flight #668
  • 5:10 p.m.: Arrive in Atlanta

WELCOME HOME!