Category: 2016 Tour Blog (Page 2 of 2)

May 26 – Trevor Wiley, first-Year tenor, music education major

We have been in Europe for one week now, and to say it has been outstanding is an understatement. The culture and history of the countries we have visited is so vast and unlike any other place I have ever visited before.

Today we traveled North from Pärnu to Tallinn. It has been one of the most relaxing days of our tour. However, we still managed to do a lot and take in a great deal of Estonian culture. We began with a 1.5 hour drive to the small town of Haapsalu. On the way most of the people on my bus caught up on sleep, but I decided to stay awake to observe the areas we drove through and to eat my last two Girl Scout cookies. Peanut Butter Patties are my lifeblood.

Upon arrival in Haapsalu, we visited the Railway Station, which many members commented, “smelled like Play-Doh.” Some used the bathroom, some took pictures with the old trains, and John Collier & Adam Dooley embraced their youth while tossing around a frisbee.

We then hopped back on our buses for a guided bus/walking tour of Haapsalu. Külli, one of our tour managers, lead my group’s tour. We got to see memorials dedicated to Cyrillus Kreek (1889-1962), a native of this town, aprominent organizer of Estonian folk music and well-known composer, and the world-famous composer Pjotr Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), who spent considerable time in Happsalu. Music is an integral part of Estonia’s culture and history, and these memorials go to show how Estonians value those who have contributed to their musical tradition.

Our destination for the walking tour was the Haapsalu Bishop’s Castle and Cathedral. After a little bit of information from tour guides we entered the beautiful cathedral. We formed a circle, joined hands, and informally sang “Shenandoah,” “The Heavens’ Flock,” and “Os Justi.” This was probably my favorite moment of the tour so far! It was some of the most beautiful singing we have ever done because we were all so connected. This was the first informal singing we have done (during this tour) in a really acoustically beautiful place, and it definitively moved some members of the choir to tears.

After our informal singing we had free time to get lunch and explore Haapsalu. I ate with a group at a Chinese restaurant, and many others enjoyed cafes or a pizza restaurant. I had a little time to look through the small shops, which reminded me of the Des Moines East Village and Valley Junction. I even found a birthday present for my mom, whose birthday is tomorrow (May 27)! Happy Birthday, Mom!

Next we made our way to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. After checking in to our hotel we had a couple hours to rest or check out the area. Drake Choir President, Rob Jedlicka, even went for a run through the streets of Tallinn.

To wrap up the day we took a guided tour of Tallinn. Our tour guide, Mall, showed us the most beautiful views of the town and we learned a lot more about the history of Estonia through its long history of foreign occupation. Mall emphasized that their country has a strong emphasis on hope for their country, for their flag when it was banned, and for their independence. We had a delicious dinner in the Old Town of Tallinn, where we all mixed up and sat with people who we don’t necessarily always hang out with, which was a great way for us to continue to build our ensemble dynamic. We had the rest of the night to ourselves to explore Tallinn or relax in the hotel.

All of our experiences have had some kind of impact on me; whether it be physical, emotional, social, spiritual, etc. As we have just passed the midpoint of our tour, I think it is important to reflect on the effects of a tour and why it is important for the Drake Choir to tour. The main reason I think it is important for us to tour is to explore cultures that we are not familiar with. This sense of unfamiliarity influences us to really take in every aspect of the culture. Weather, food, architecture, clothing, and the way people socialize in these countries is different from the United States. However, the main thing that is similar is an appreciation for music. Estonians are some of the most passionate about music, as their singing revolution led to their independence. It has been life-changing to see that the main thing that brings people together is music, and that is true throughout the entire world.

May 26 – Abbi Nelson, sophomore alto, BA Music and international relations major

Today was the first day the sun did not wake me up at 4:30am. The overcast sky made it harder to get out of bed, and I fought a difficult fight trying to pack my suitcase. It was time to leave seaside Pärnu and head north to Haapsalu, before finally ending in Tallinn, Estonia’s capital. We boarded the bus and settled in for the short ride to Haapsalu.

While most members used this time to catch up on much needed sleep, I spent most of my time staring out the window. Everything around me was a lush green- first, a forest, then an expansive field… It struck me just how similar this looked to Iowa. When I left America, I was expecting everything to be different (we are in a different country, after all!) and yet I find myself seeing more similarities than differences. The Estonian countryside is just one example. It is a further reminder that this is one world, despite humanity’s desire to slice it with boundaries and social constructions.

We arrived in Haapsalu and dug out our coats for the first time this tour. In the words of Külli (one of our tour guides): “Tourists always ask, ‘When is summer?’ And we Estonians like to say, ‘Well this year summer was on a Tuesday, but I was working Tuesday so I missed it.'” Despite the chilly wind we enjoyed a walking tour around town, seeing sites such as the statue of Cyrillus Creek, writer and collector of Estonian folk songs and a composer of great renown, and a bench where Tchaikovsky sat, perhaps providing him with the inspiration to write Swan Lake. (Coincidentally, there was a swan floating in the lake that is in close proximity to the bench!) The tour concluded with the ruins of an ancient castle, with the walls still essentially intact. It was there that Drake Choir experienced a truly magical moment.

We entered the Bishop’s Cathedral, a 13th century building clad in white stone. We knew we would perform an informal sing there, but I don’t think any member knew just how it surreal it would be. Standing in a circle at the front of the church, we prepared to sing Shenandoah, and I watched a ripple effect take place. One choir member grabbed the hand of another, and soon the entire choir was connected. As we sang the music enveloped us, creating new waves that came from every direction. It was a sound that warmed you from the inside out, and had a profound effect on the choir. So often when we perform, we perform for others, but in this moment we were singing purely for ourselves. The silence that followed our last note was only interrupted by sniffling and the drying of wet eyes.

We had a little free time for lunch, where I discovered a small cafe that served my purpose of finding a warm meal. Sitting with friends, it wasn’t until I was paying the check that I was struck with a surprising thought: I hadn’t checked for wifi once. The old me would have searched for a network the moment I entered a building, but the fact that I forgot shows how this country has affected me. Good food, good company, and meaningful memories are what matter here, and the choir is benefiting from a more relaxed, unconnected atmosphere.

We boarded the bus once again and headed for Tallinn. After arriving and unpacking at the hotel, we embarked on another walking tour. Tallinn is an incrediblely mismatched city that somehow works to create something beautiful. Standing in one spot you can see the ruins of Toompea Castle, the House of Parliament, a breathtaking Russian Orthodox Cathedral, a lush green park, and buildings that look like they came out of a watercolor storybook. Estonia’s history is influenced by many different cultures (both good and bad) and these are reflected in its appearance. Down the cobblestone streets it was like walking through a pastel dollhouse, and every choir members’ eyes were sparkling with excitement and wonder.

The night finished with a picture worthy three-course meal and the sound of laughter and joy. We are very fortunate to be in a place where our cheeks are sore from laughing, our eyes dry from staring, and our feet tired from exploring.

May 25 – Nick Baker, senior tenor, marketing major

It’s been just under a week since we arrived in the Baltic States, and the surprise of sunlight streaming through my hotel window at 5:00 AM has yet to wear off. I’m amazed at how long the days are here. As I am writing this, the sun is just starting to set and it’s almost 10:00 PM.

In reflection, these last several days have been incredible. Latvia and Estonia are truly hidden gems, and it is such a pleasure to visit these countries that are so rich is history and culture. It constantly occurs to me that, if not for this international tour, I might not have ever even given thought to visiting this part of the world, and what a shame that would have been. I’m positive that the rest of our stay in Estonia and Finland will be life-changing.

Today, we had an early departure from Pärnu, the seaside holiday destination, and traveled about 80 kilometers to the ancient town of Viljandi, Estonia. My group was greeted by an energetic tour guide who proceeded to show us many notable landmarks in the hilly city. We’ve been privileged to spend our time with a number of city guides since our arrival in Riga, but I have to say that today’s guide not only told us facts, but let us in on personal stories and truly showed her passion for the country of Estonia. I was particularly touched by her comments about the rich choral music tradition of Estonia, one that is marked by a sense of perseverance, community, and beauty through some of the darkest times in the history of our world. She offered us a piece of advice: don’t think about our impending choral performance as a concert. Think of it as a back door into Estonian culture. In effect, she was threading the needle for us to sew our own thread into the rich fabric that is the Estonian choral tradition. These comments stayed with me through the duration of tonight’s performance and will likely remain in my memory as we progress through this tour. We can’t all be Estonian, but we can try.

I was fortunate enough to have a rather quiet afternoon with Taylor Donaldson, one of my best friends. Though traveling with over 70 people can be an exhilarating experience, it is also exhausting. In an effort to recover from physical and social fatigue, we opted for a quiet lunch at a small café, a much needed cup of coffee, and an ice cream cone that was accompanied by a walk in a small park and a quick game of hopscotch at a children’s play area. As a graduated senior, it has become apparent that my time with such great friends is now limited, and it was an honor to spend time with Taylor before I return to the “real world” in Omaha, NE and she travels to Morocco as a Fulbright fellow. I look forward to having more experiences with my close friends as we continue to enjoy our time here.

Tonight’s performance St. John’s Church in Viljandi was festooned with the ringing of mobile phones, the crying of babies and the playing of church bells. Nevertheless, I think we gave a great performance, one that I could tell was touching to several members of the audience. One of my favorite parts about these international tours is interacting with the audience members. Though we are separated by a vast language barrier, the smiles and inherent gratitude of the audience is apparent and touching.

Tomorrow, we travel to Tallinn, Estonia, our third stop. We truly are living the jet set life on this tour. It’s so exciting to see new sights and experience new things in these cities. Thought I don’t want to think about it, this trip will come to an end in just a week’s time. Between now and then, I look forward to the singing we are privileged to do, and the friends I’m so blessed to be with.

May 25 – Mollie Lawler, sophomore soprano, music major

Wednesday! It is weird to think that one week from now we will be in O’Hare airport, desperately waiting for the seven-hour layover to end and the plane that will take us back to Des Moines to depart. Time surely flies!

This morning was a little rough for a few reasons: 1. I like to sleep (particularly, nap) and understandably, there is not a lot of napping time built into our Grand Baltic Tour. 2. Despite pulling the curtains closed every night I have been consistently poked awake by an eager sun each morning, wishing to start the day. The day in Estonia, apparently, is enthusiastically in full swing by 4:30 am. I am neither enthusiastic or seemingly alive at this time. 3. The Adventure Course yesterday left me pumped with adrenaline! It also left me unable to move, as my body generally views a fast walk as sufficient movement. I am not sure how it viewed me zip-lining and climbing and (heaven-forbid) using my core, but I do know that it still hurts to breathe as I type. Anyway…

We started the day with breakfast. European breakfasts are one of my favorite things, since they are so hearty and full of wonderful things (such as chocolate cake today!) However, unlike western Europe, I have been disappointed in the Baltic states by their lack of a constant flow of chocolatey-hazelnut ambrosia known as Nutella. There has been no sighting of that brown goodness over the past six days, but I will continue to look forward to the future. I digress. A fun fact! My roommate, Caity Carr, and I discovered that one can buy a 2-liter bottle of water here for about €0.38. If a 2-liter bottle of water seems hard to imagine, reflect on the size of an average infant and there you are.

Child-sized water bottle in tow, I moved onto the first thing on the itinerary today, which included a quick walking tour around a few spots in the old town of Pärnu.  It has a fascinating history; I learned that it was actually a popular pilgrimage site to a black cross about 500 years ago. We also had the chance to see a monument that was erected in the 20^th century under Soviet rule for a writer born in Pärnu who was a writer supporting the Communist party. Seeing this made me reflect on a difference between America and Latvia and Estonia.  Our tour guide mentioned that the town had discussed removing the statue as it clashed with the newfound freedom the Baltic states had found. She said “It is our history, and so we have kept it.” I have seen in both Latvia and Estonia that they firmly acknowledge their past – yes, even the black, ugly stains that still haunt some of the older generations. These people keep these things, such as the remains of a Jewish ghetto, a former KGB house, and this statue to a communist propaganda writer, to acknowledge and to remember.

We moved on with our day with an hour bus ride to the small town of Viljandi, where we spent the rest of the afternoon and evening. Viljandi is a charming medieval town complete with castle ruins, moats, and an entirely hilarious tour guide. Our guide for the day was actually Finnish and had moved to Estonia some 20 years earlier after falling in love with the country and the people. I have not, perhaps, met a more sassy, spunky, and loud person before and she made the tour delightful! It was amusing to learn that the people of Viljandi were historically a very stubborn people. Apparently, they were one of the only Estonian towns that were not overtaken by statues and flags venerating Stalin and Lenin and the Soviet Union as they simply refused to allow any of the propaganda within the city walls, and it was forcibly (and repeatedly) removed. (The town was also one of the first to have indoor plumbing in Estonia in the 19^th century as the people decided they would rather spend the taxes they should be sending to the Tsars on their own city instead.) It was wonderful to listen to our guide discuss why she moved to Estonia and how she fell in love with their pride in their independence, their humility, and their resilience and it was moving to see how she had been touched by this land and the people.  She made it clera that singing is the soul of Estonia and that one cannot understand this country without understanding the that singing together is the ultimate expression of the national character.

The rest of the afternoon was spent eating lunch at a quaint restaurant, which we learned was dubbed one off the best in Estonia! I had buffalo mozzarella, and I swear, the cheese had never tasted so fresh, the tomatoes so sweet and the bread so…bready. Many in the choir quickly descended upon a small, unassuming ice cream shack (as there has been a lack of that delicious dessert along the way so far). Many spent their money on a “special” banana flavored ice cream… it was bright yellow and horrifying to anyone with a set of standards for their taste buds (apparently, only myself), but to each their own.

The day ended with a concert in St. John’s Church located just beyond the castle ruins in Viljandi. This church, built in the 1460s, was large and had spacious, white stone walls that were accented with simple flower arrangements and tarnished gold chandeliers. During Soviet rule the church was actually used as a storehouse and the altar and organ were completely removed from the space.

The concert was lovely! We had a smaller crowd today, but that did not make it less interesting. Attending the concert was an old woman, who, although owning a cell-phone, did not seem to know the first thing about the noises it is capable of making. As such, it went off no fewer than three times during the concert, each time making an appearance with a new jaunty ringtone, which precipitated an astonished expression from its owner. Nevertheless the crowd was appreciative and kind and the concert was enjoyed by all.  Many audience members gave “thumbs up” signs as they left, while others provided hugs as a sign of gratitude for our music.

We followed up the concert with a group dinner at a local hotel  and enjoyed a wide array of fish, meat, bread, and (most importantly) apple crisp. Tummies full, bladders empty, and hearts warm we clambered back onto the bus for the hour-long drive back to Pärnu, eagerly awaiting the adventures to come with the next day, when we will travel to Talinn, the capital of Estonia. And now, off to pack!

Tuesday, May 24 – Ben Johnson, senior bass, marketing and information systems major

Tervist from Estonia! Today was our first full day in the beautiful seaside town of Pärnu, and I think it is safe to say all of us have started to fall in love with this charming slice of the Baltic coast.

Pärnu is known for its spas, and because there is one located right in our hotel, I decided to wake up early and relax in the hot tub before starting the long day ahead. If I have learned anything in my four years touring with Drake Choir, it is that some “me” time is crucial to keeping sane, and I can hardly think of a better way to get some than lounging in an Estonian spa! While I was soaking in the warm water, I noticed that not a single word was spoken the entire time I was there. There were plenty of other people at the spa, yet everyone took that time to simply relax in silence before moving on with their day. One of the observations I have made both over this tour and during my semester abroad in Prague is that Americans struggle with slowing down and engaging in quiet reflective time. We convince ourselves that we are so busy that we barely have time to sleep, let alone soak in a spa or take a walk in a park. In Europe, however, reflective time is a priority. Whether it is taking time to go for an early morning swim or simply forgoing your “to-go” coffee for an actual mug, slowing down and engaging in some silent “me” time is something we can all work on.

After my morning dip, I joined the rest of the choir for breakfast before heading out to the Valgeranna Adventure Park! It was a good thing I had a leisurely morning, because the adventure park was anything but relaxing. The park consists of six high-rope trails that vary in difficulty and height, all ultimately culminating in an exhilarating zip line back to solid ground. While I expected the park to be fun, I didn’t expect to leave it with a new appreciation for the kindness and supportive nature of my fellow Drake Choir members. Every time someone was struggling with an obstacle, there was a member right by them sharing advice and words of encouragement. It’s easy to get frustrated when someone in front of you is taking a long time on an obstacle, but instead of turning bitter and impatient, everyone cheered everyone on and created a positive, supportive environment. I left the Valgeranna Adventure Park feeling absolutely full of the warmth and support of my peers.

After a short lunch break and trip back to the hotel, it was already time for us to depart to our rehearsal and concert at St. Elizabeth Church. The church was absolutely beautiful, and even though it was finished in 1747 (well before our country was even founded) it is considered modern in comparison to many of the other venues we have performed in this tour. It is always humbling to think of how expansive the histories of these countries are in comparison to the USA.

During the course of the concert, a few things struck me:

• The audience was so young! Many of the concerts’ attendees appeared to be in their early twenties. It’s always exciting to see so many young people excited about choral music!
• People were INTO IT. Every time I scanned the audience I saw them grinning, taking pictures, or closing their eyes to enjoy the music. The energy in the room was absolutely contagious.
• The members of the audience were some of the friendliest people I have ever met. After the concert ended, multiple people came up to congratulate the choir. One lady even hugged me and told every member of the choir individually that she was blessed by their performance.

The audience made it clear how immensely important choral music is for the Estonian people, and it made singing the concert an absolute joy. I have a feeling I am going to remember this concert for a long time to come.

After the concert ended, I joined up with a few friends to walk to a local pub for dinner. The food was delicious, the company was wonderful, and it was a perfect ending to another eventful day here in the Baltic States.

May 24 – Jessia Connelly, sophomore alto, biochemistry/molecular biology major

Greetings from the Baltic Sea! Today was our first full day in Pärnu, Estonia. As sad as it was for us to say goodbye to Latvia, Estonia has started off on an exciting note.

Our beautiful hotel, Strand Spa, welcomed us to the morning with its glorious open architecture, with large windows at the end of each hall to gratify our eyes with a perfect view of the Baltic Sea. One of the strangest things I’ve noticed about the sea outside my window is the lack of waves, as I grew up going to the Atlantic Ocean. Somehow, the tranquility of the open water beyond our windows really reflects this quiet and peaceful little town. We were introduced to Pärnu a little bit this morning when we left for today’s adventures as we rode the bus a little ways out of town.  A small city of around 40,000 inhabitants, is actually the summer capitol of Estonia. Our wonderful guide, Kÿlli, explained that during the summer, the population of Pärnu will double, or even triple! She also played some fun Estonian songs for us, so we enjoyed local music on the bus. On the way out of town, we passed a large cemetery. I was struck by the amount of trees and old sculptures. Kÿlli explained that the cemetery had once marked the edge of Pärnu, as the people were not able to bury their loved ones in town, as the Czarina, Katherine II, had disallowed that practice.

We crossed two rivers, one of which had a really cool looking Soviet style bridge. The Soviet architecture we have been introduced to is some of the most interesting I have ever seen- it’s always so intimidating, so solid! The Soviet style bridge was the one that took us out of town, and we arrived at the Valgeranna Adventure Park shortly afterwards. Let me tell you, this adventure park was something I have been looking forward to for a long time. After I looked at the link for this back at home, the pictures of people on high ropes courses and zip lines was all I could think about! The park did not let me down. It went above and beyond my expectations! And from what I could tell, the entire choir had an amazing time there. True bonding occurred high in the trees of Estonia as we made our way under, over, and through obstacles on a high ropes course, stretched out high in the forest overlooking the Baltic Sea.

We were given harnesses and training, and then we were let go. There were six different courses of increasing difficulty levels, and after finishing the first course, I couldn’t wait to keep going. I started in a small group of awesome friends, including Krista Petersen, Seth Hammond, Macey Coppess, and Sam Hagen. We boosted each other along through the first three courses, and then things changed a little as members of the choir went to and fro from course to course, as you don’t need to necessarily go in order. The whole time, it was amazing the support we received from each other. No matter which person I was following, or the friends following me, I knew someone was there to encourage me, or someone for me to encourage. Cries of “You got this!” or “It’s not that bad, you just have to go for it!” resounded through the trees. It took a little longer than expected, and not everyone was able to all the courses, but it was clear that everyone had a thoroughly exciting time, conquered fears, and trusted a little in each other and in themselves.

After a short lunch hour in Pärnu’s Old Town, we returned to the hotel to prepare for the concert. Since we had over an hour and a half, Macey and I decided to check out the spa. We tried both saunas out together, but neither of us could completely withstand either! Saunas are good for intense relaxation, which was amazing for our sore muscles, until the point that breathing becomes difficult, of course.

The concert at St Elizabeth’s was truly a treat today. The old church itself, a humble yet majestic building dating back to 1747, had very plain walls, but the sound from inside those walls was beautiful and warm, although not as reverberating as the previous two churches we sang in on this tour. But I liked it better, since the walls seemed to collect our sounds and give it a big hug, wrapping the sounds in warmth and joy. The church also sported a new round stained glass window, added in 2010. The window itself was fairly plain, with only a design of a clear crescent moon against a blue backdrop. Framing the window, however, were the elegantly placed pipes of the new organ in the church. The old organ, still functional, is used for organ duets, as we learned from the deacon of the church.

I can’t remember a lot of specific details from the concert, but I remember it felt really comfortable to sing there. A specific memory I have is standing, singing O nata lux and feeling very at peace. I looked up, and Dr. David Puderbaugh was in the balcony, just slightly leaning over to watch us and he was directly in a ray of light from the window behind him. His expression was so peaceful that I instantly knew that emotion could transfer from the choir to the audience. There was also a sweet woman in the front row who constantly smiled at us and was obviously very invested in the music. An audience like that helped us to push ourselves to sing from within and to commit to the sounds and emotions we wanted to transfer to the entire audience. I believe we were successful with the transfer, as the reactions of the audience were enthusiastic and many people thanked us after the concert! “Aitäh.” “Aitäh.”

Dinner tonight was spent in the Old Town, and the adorable town offered us an excellent supper. Walking around here at night is peaceful, as the quiet town shuts down around eight for the most part. It was nice to be away from a lot of noise and just appreciate the sound of my feet on the cobblestones and the laughter of the friends around me.

Aitäh, Drake Choir, for an amazing day. Aitäh, Estonia, for your hospitality so far.

May 23 – Adam Dooley, junior tenor, musical theatre

The Last Day in Latvia and our arrival in Estonia

As the past few days have gone by, the Drake Choir has been fortunate enough to become familiar with the beauty that is Latvia, more specifically, the city of Riga.  We’ve had the privilege to sing in gorgeous acoustics, experience the culinary options of the natives, and attend a festival and other activities in the Old Town.  Overall, we’ve had the ability to scratch what I can only imagine to be the surface of the profound and steadfast heritage of the Latvian people.

This morning I awoke at 6 a.m. after a night spent in a medieval cellar-pub entitled Folkklubs ala Pagrabs: a dimly-lit, and, as our tour guide Juris put it, “very jolly” place looking straight off the set of a movie set in the 14^th century.  After I woke, I decided I would spend my last few hours in Riga going on a jog for a few miles in order to let all of my surroundings for the past few days soak in one last time.  I went through the Old Town and Bastejkaln parks, attempting to be an “expert noticer” of all things around me.  For the first mile or so, I had my headphones in, admiring such things as architecture, art, the small river that flows through the park, and all other things of beauty.  Eventually, I took my headphones out, listening only to the rhythm of my shoes catching the ground.  I say this because this truly was one of the only sounds being made.  America is, and we do not realize it, such a loud place.  Bustle and noise is a constant, and serenity is a rarity.  In Latvia, quiet and calm is quite common; the contrast is something that can only be comprehended through experience.  It is a peaceful place, a place of cleansing.  There is a certain feeling of enlightenment that seems to blanket the city.  It is rid of all noise pollution, of many materialistic values, and is filled with a refreshing breeze that fills the city with hope. They understand one another and their city without use of many words.  Latvians grasp an aspect of humanity that I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed.

To experience this made my next experience of the day even more meaningful.  Both the Drake and Chamber Choir spent two unforgettable hours with Latvian composer Eriks Esenvalds.  Drake Choir sings his song The Heavens’ Flock, and Chamber choir sings Only in Sleep. He provided us with two hours full of captivating stories and extremely passionate music-making, all while remaining one of the most gentle, kind, and humble humans I’ve seen.  We began with Drake Choir and The Heavens’ Flock and ended with Only in Sleep. Throughout the pieces, he emphasized passion.  He reminded us that although we are singing music, we should always be story tellers, we’re always painting a picture.  We sang through while he made small tempo and dynamic adjustments.  As we glided through the time, he said a few things that even more so piqued my attention.  “Look at the score, but always look at what is behind the score.” He highly emphasized the meaning of the text, and the flow of the poetry.  He also made sure to remind us to personally capture our own story and meaning within the song.  I remember him telling us to “smell the night air” and “see the sky” during The Heavens’ Flock in order to not only tell a story, but to be in the story.  One of the most magical moments during the masterclass, however, was the work he did with Only in Sleep. In the midst of the song, he had the entirety of Drake Choir join in.  It was a beautiful collaboration that transcended the choirs at that moment.  So often, I feel as if Only in Sleep is a piece that only Chamber Choir gets to enjoy.  When the whole of the ensemble was able to finally share the piece with us, it brought actual tears to my eyes.  We talk so much about making sure that everyone has a place in the choir, and that no one feels left out.  I think this was a moment of true inclusion. Eriks Esenvalds is a very passionate man, and I’m so very appreciative of our opportunity to work with such a great mind.

Next, we were able to travel north of Riga to visit several different places in Gaujas National Park.  First, we ate a group lunch and observed traditional Latvian folk traditions such as singing, instruments, and dancing.  Some of the group even got the pleasure to participate directly in the activities with the performers! So far, it has been very clear that the Latvians cherish tradition. They embrace it, and no matter the level of skill or talent, they all cheerfully exude the meaning behind each ritual. After the performances, we explored the ruins of two separate castles, adding to the historical significance and context of the experiences we’ve been having.  After that, we headed to Estonia.

We arrived in Estonia in the late evening and settled ourselves in our rooms.  The hotel is a lovely spa resort of sorts and includes a jacuzzi, a pool, and saunas.  Before going our separate ways for dinner, the upcoming seniors and the graduated seniors had a debriefing in order to address the leadership roles and tactics for the upcoming year of Drake choir.  We had a lengthy, but very well thought out conversation that was beneficial for all involved. Lastly, I went to dinner at a charming German pub and devoured a delicious pork schnitzel before coming back to the hotel and writing this post.

Monday, May 23 – Jenny Bjoin, senior soprano, music education

Great friends. Great food. Great people. Today was simply magical, and I don’t think it’s one any choir member will forget anytime soon. Not only did we experience a once-in a-lifetime opportunity working with an incredible composer, but also were able to explore castle ruins and immerse ourselves in Latvian culture.

This morning started off with an excellent last breakfast at our Riga hotel, consisting of eggs, pastries, bacon, cheeses, baked beans, cooked tomatoes, yogurt, and fruit. Then we were off to the Latvian State Choir room. Upon entering the room, we were all struck by the beautiful chandelier and vastness of the space. We were able to get situated and briefly warm up before our highly anticipated guest arrived.

Honestly, Eriks Ensenvalds is one of the kindest, most humble people I have ever met. He was so warm and open to us, and began our time together by sharing about his life, his new home outside of Riga, and his four children, aged 16, 13, 10, and 1. It is such an amazing experience to get to sing for and work with the composer. You experience their passion, their story, and their energy behind a piece that drives you forward and motivates you to put your story and passion into giving life to the piece. Drake Choir was able to work with him on his piece, “The Heavens’ Flock,” and Chamber Choir worked with him on “Only in Sleep.” Eriks had such great ideas to help the music move and build. He really got us to open our sound and find even more passion in this music. His conducting was beautiful, and he pulled the music out of me. He added so much musicality to our performance, and we wanted to sing so well for him! It really was incredibly special to make beautiful music with the man who created it. Of course, we had to get a picture with him after the masterclass, and Eriks suggested that we needed to take a “stoney-face” picture with completely dull and annoyed faces to make sure everyone knew we had a great collaboration together. What sarcasm.

After the masterclass, we hopped on the bus to drive to Gauja National Park, where we had a great lunch at Kunga Rija Restaurant. It was a three-course meal, consisting of a salad with tomato and mozzarella, pork with potatoes and carrots, and a rhubarb and cranberry pastry. After lunch, we were led outside by a 6-person folk group who serenaded us with traditional Latvian folk music and dance. Erin Besser even got pulled up to dance on a small bench with one of the performers. You could tell she’s taken many years of ballet classes! They also gave us small instruments to play, pulled Kellen Schrimper, Sam Nolte, and Ben Johnson up to perform the “wedding dance,” and taught us some Latvian so we could sing a song with them. We concluded our time there by standing in a circle and singing “Kas Tie Tadi,” a traditional Latvian folk song in our repertoire. What a special moment for us all!

Back on the buses we went, for a two hour tour of the Hill of Dainu, Sigulda castle ruins, and the Turida Castle. Near the Hill of Dainu, there was a statue of the man who began collecting and writing down hundreds of thousands of Latvian folk songs. Our tour guide mentioned that it was tradition for people to sing a folk tune from their own country while visiting this statue, so my tour group (all of the women of the choir) decided to gather around the statue and sing the first verse of “Shenandoah,” an American folk song. We then had free time to explore the castle ruins, climb the castle staircases, and enjoy the incredible views from the top. Talk about amazing photo ops! The Turida castle, which is the “new” castle for Latvia, also had a crossbow shooting competition, in which many choir members took a shot trying to hit the small target on the bale of hay. Congrats to Ben White and Peter Clinkscales for being the only two Drake Choir members skilled enough to actually accomplish the feat!

Back on the bus for a two hour bus ride across the border into Estonia! Before leaving for this tour, we watched a documentary together entitled “The Singing Revolution.” This film depicts the struggle for Estonian independence from Germany and the Soviet Union, and shows one scene of people from all over Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania standing shoulder to shoulder on a highway that stretches across all three countries singing, to demonstrate that they were united in their cause. We drove along that highway today as we entered into Estonia, and it just made everything real. The determination and constant sense of hope in the people here is quite evident, and I can’t wait to explore the city of Pärnu in the coming days. Off to the adventure park tomorrow! Zip lines, here I come! 🙂

Greetings, family, friends, and followers of the Drake Choir! I’m writing today on behalf of the choir to give a little update from my perspective of our time here on our international tour! I think it’s safe to say that the choir has warmed up to Rīga, the capital city of Latvijas (that’s Latvia to all of you Americans), and the city we have spent our first leg of the tour in. There are a few things here that have reminded me of home:

1. The hospitality and generosity of our tour guides, concert hosts, and general population in Rīga
2. The exciting nightlife and attractions
3. The T.G.I Friday’s we came across

(Before I continue, a note to my mother: No, I didn’t eat at T.G.I Friday’s, and yes I’m staying safe and walking in groups!)

Rīga was founded in 1201, and it is safe to say that my concept of “old” is not the concept of old that Europeans have! (When I think of old, my mind centers on that loaf of bread sitting in the back of my pantry that’s been there since 2004. I’m kidding. 2009.) Our hotel (which is Albert Einstein themed, because he was born here! Kidding again, he was born in Germany. But you all believed me for a second. Pay attention in school.) is right in the middle of the Art Nouveau district and is within walking distance from the center of Rīga, properly named the Old Town.

So far, the choir has sung in two beautiful churches. We sang a 6pm Saturday night concert at St. John’s and contributed music to a 12pm Sunday church service at the Rīga Dome Cathedral, a Lutheran church founded in 1211. Both churches were beautiful, but the Dome Cathedral was one of the most aurally striking places I have ever sung. The sound we produced echoed for at least 5 seconds after every chord we sang! If you’re reading this, I’m sure you have a family member/friend/person you are stalking in the choir so you can check their Facebook for pictures of these churches. We have all taken approximately 5 million pictures so far! This is my first time in another country (I went to Mexico for a day but it was on a Carnival Cruise so I don’t really count it), and everywhere we go I have had my head on a swivel to take everything in.

On Sunday afternoon, the choir was treated to a tour of the Latvian Ethonographic Open Air Museum, which was a Living History Farms-type of museum. We toured old wooden houses, churches, and windmills in a forest on the outskirts of Rīga and learned all about how Latvians used to live in the 18th and 19th centuries. We all also were eaten alive by mosquitos. Mosquitos season begins early in Europe, apparently!

I am having an unforgettable time here with the choir. These are memories that will last a lifetime with friends I will never forget. I hope you keep checking back for more updates of our tour!

Līdz nākamajai reizei,  (Until next time)

Saturday, May 21 – Eve Thomas, junior alto (section leader)

Today was our first full day in Riga, and we were all excited to explore the city in greater depth. I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to go after a good night’s sleep. Our accommodations are quite nice, and many of us enjoy the Albert Einstein references throughout the hotel, such as atom printed carpet, quotes in the elevator, and a reading area on the main floor. (Albert Einstein actually lived in Riga for two years!) The breakfast spread was amazing – there were so many options, from fresh fruit and jams to bread and cheese to hot dishes. My favorite part was the selection of teas and honey. After eating a filling breakfast, we all met in the hotel lobby at 9 am to begin our walking tour of the Art Nouveau district with two local tour guides. It was a beautiful day today – sunny and warm enough to go without a jacket.

The tour guide for my group, George, was extremely knowledgeable about Latvian history and culture, and was quite funny as well. We started by walking a few blocks to Alberta iela (Albert Street), where the majority of the buildings were designed by Mihails Eizensteins at the turn of the twentieth century. The entire street was built in only five years, with the ideals of Russian luxury reflected in the designs. At first glance, buildings in the Art Nouveau style look like the standard Neoclassical style, but upon closer examination, the funny faces and elaborate and exotic ornamentation and curves identify them as part of the Art Nouveau style. As an interesting contrast, George also pointed out a few buildings designed with a Latvian mentality. These structures were not as loud or flashy, but they were still beautifully designed to emphasize the qualities of the natural materials. In addition, the interiors of these buildings were much more functional, with elevators and heating inside. As we walked through these streets, I was struck by the wide variety of building styles all right next to each other. I think it’s cool that the Latvians decided to keep homes and businesses built in different time periods rather than tearing them down.

After this brief walking tour, we boarded the buses for a tour of other areas of the city. Riga is considered the “small Paris of the North,” with wide boulevards and green spaces, as well as architecture influenced by Austrian, Greek, and Roman styles. We passed by many interesting buildings, including the National Opera House, where Eriks Esenvalds (who we will be working with on Monday) just premiered a new opera this weekend, and the Freedom Monument. We got off the bus again to explore the Old Town on foot. Riga was founded in 1201 when Albert Buxhoevden, a monk from Bremen, Germany, came to Latvia to convert the “heathens.” He called for a group of Teutonic knights, originally the Sword Brothers, to come help him with this task.

One of the most famous buildings in this area is the Society of the Blackheads, which was originally built as a guildhall and gathering place for rich German merchants in 1334, and has since been renovated multiple times. George told us that beginning around 1510, they began decorating a tree for Christmastime in the town square. Today, this society is considered to be the first to decorate a tree for Christmas. We just happened to be in the Old Town while a Medieval festival was going on, so it was easy to imagine how this area looked, smelled, and felt 800 years ago. George talked about two of the oldest churches, St. John’s and St. Peter’s, regarding how their roles changed over the years with the Protestant Reformation. While walking through the streets, we passed one called Riharda Vagnera iela (Richard Wagner Street). George explained that Wagner actually lived in Riga and served as Kapellmeister for the orchestra for a couple years when he was trying to escape his debts. We ended our tour in the center of the Old Town, and then had a few hours of free time to eat lunch and explore.

I went with a small group to the Riga Central Market, which is housed in old German Zeppelin hangars by the Daugava River. Walking through the market was a huge sensory overload – there were so many people, smells, and things to look at. There were stands selling items as varied as fish, pastries, souvenirs, yarn, clothes, and so much more. I had brought some snacks with me, so I just got a few pastries for lunch and to save for later. I was surprised by how cheap everything was – I got good-sized pastries for 20, 30, or 40 cents! While trying to communicate with the Latvian shop owners, I realized how much Americans take for granted the fact that people from other countries speak English and will understand them. I have traveled abroad multiple times, and I’ve never had much trouble communicating with locals because they usually speak English. Throughout my two days here, it has been more difficult for me to order food or ask questions because a large number of Latvians don’t speak English, or only have a limited vocabulary. I think that this is a good thing though, because it gives all of us an idea of how difficult it is for people who don’t speak English to communicate with us in America.

Once we left the Riga Central Market, we walked back towards the Old Town, stopping in a Baltic jewelry shop to admire their beautiful designs. We continued to slowly make our way back to the hotel, looking at roadside stands and passing by the Freedom Monument to get a closer look. We got back to the hotel with just enough time to change and get ready for our rehearsal and concert at St. John’s Church. After learning so much about Latvian history and culture, I think we were all excited to share our music with an audience for the first time. The inside of St. John’s is beautiful, with stained glass windows, an intricate altar, and a web design on the ceiling. It’s crazy to think that people have been gathering in that space for almost 800 years. Our rehearsal mainly consisted of getting used to the space. This church is much more resonant than Sheslow. I loved hearing each chord ring after Dr. ABC cut us off.

We had a short amount of free time before the concert, which choir members used to walk around the Old Town or eat a snack. I was curious to see how many people would come to the concert, and was pleasantly surprised to see that the pews of the church were pretty full. We had a solid first concert; I could tell that the audience really enjoyed it. I, and I think several other choir members, feel more connected to the pieces by Esvenvalds and Kas tie tadi after seeing first-hand how resilient the Latvian people are despite their tumultuous history. While we sang Kas tie tadi (our Latvian folk song), there were people in the audience mouthing the words with us. I was very moved to see many of the older audience members give us a standing ovation after that piece. After the concert was over, we all took the buses back to the hotel and had free time for the rest of the night.

I joined a group looking for a sit-down place to eat dinner. After walking around for a while, we found a reasonably priced Italian restaurant in the Old Town. It definitely felt good to sit down and relax! Most of us got pizza, and it was fresh and filling. Tonight was Museum Night in Riga, so we were hoping to get into the Art Museum after dinner since the museums were open until midnight. Unfortunately, we finished dinner around 11, and the lines were so long that we knew we wouldn’t make it in before closing. Even though that was disappointing, I think it’s awesome that so many people wanted to go to the Art Museum on a Saturday night. The line was all the way around the block! I wish people were that excited about art in America.

We had a nice walk back to the hotel, where we split off to relax and get some rest before our busy day tomorrow. I think I can speak for all of Drake Choir when I say that we are so excited and grateful to be here and have all these amazing opportunities and experiences. I am trying to soak in every single moment!

Saturday, May 21 – Kyle Roeder, junior bass

Hello from sunny Latvia! Seriously though, I am writing this blog post at 10:30 PM, and the sun is just setting in Rīga. The people remind me of my lovely mother, Kim Roeder. They are kind and loving and will clap a half an hour for your concert, but if you do something wrong, you’ll know. They love hockey, and therefore I love them.

Latvia–as many of us have found–is unique because the Latvian people are still finding and creating their own new culture. I just finished a walk (hike) around Rīga with a few of my friends, and we were taken aback by the gravity of a national “holiday.” The celebration? All museums in this capital city are completely free and open to public until midnight–just in time to walk home with a few beams of sun left. Interesting for a city that has been obliterated so much that the residents stopped cleaning up and built on top of the rubble.

As we did a walking tour of the ‘Old City’ of Rīga, our tour guide took us through the plaza neighboring St. Peter’s Church. We began by learning about Lutheran tradition in Latvia, and its Germanic/Teutonic roots. We didn’t notice nor could we see at the time, but half of the stained glass windows of the church were missing. It didn’t take me long to reach my conclusion before our guide confirmed my suspicion. The windows no longer exist due to concussion from bombing during WWII. During and after World War II Latvia was successively taken over by the Soviet Union, then Germany, and then again by the Soviet Union. Only 3,500 of 60,000 Jewish Latvians were left following the Holocaust.

Our guide informed us that Germany viewed Latvia as German by association. Germans founded the capital at the beginning of the 13th-century and provided the predominant culture–including cuisine and beer. In turn, the Soviets decided to bomb away the oldest portion of the city.

The city is filled with the most intense juxtaposition I have ever witnessed. Usually, Americans see juxtaposition of time while abroad. In common vacation destinations like London or Rome (maybe not Branson), grand new buildings are placed next to facades that were created as far back as the 16th-century. In Rīga, war-torn is juxtaposed with chic. We have witnessed much rebuilding as the country is still so young. (Latvia became independent in 1991.) Down the street from the hotel, we see a high-end cigar lounge immediately next to a building from 1884 that still has burn marks and cracked stone.

We also witnessed this juxtaposition with a style of architecture called Art Nouveau. A whole district of Rīga (the district in which our hotel is located; it has been designated by UNESCO as a world heritage site) is comprised of buildings dating only to a century ago. However, Art Nouveau makes frequent stylistic references to earlier architectural elements.

As best as can be summed up in Millenial terms, Rīga is pretty chill. Today, we heard about the triumphs of a nation which has existed under the dominance of a succession of more powerful countries and overlords. If Latvia can recover and become a shining cultural center after years of oppression, I think that–not to get righteous–Republicans and Democrats can risk shaking each others’ hands.

Drake Choir 2016 International Tour – Days 1 and 2 – Rob Jedlicka, senior tenor and president of the Drake Choir, pharmacy major

Sveiki visieum and greetings from Latvia! I have the wonderful opportunity to provide one of the first blog posts about the Drake Choir’s International Tour. While these last two days have certainly been a whirlwind, there is little to show for our work other than some sore necks and swollen feet from logging 20 hours of flight time through 9 time zones and 4 different airports.

Personally, my journey to this amazing city began at 4:00 am on Wednesday morning, as I frantically finalized packing while simultaneously finishing moving out of my apartment. Once arrived at the Des Moines airport, we began our journey to Europe. An easy hour and a half flight to Chicago was met with an arduous 6-hour layover as we waited for the remainder of the choir to arrive from Des Moines before our international flight began. While I can safely say O’Hare is not the most entertaining airport to kill a half-day in, reading, playing cards, and swapping stories with other choir members helped to make the time literally fly by (I’m sorry, I had to).

Once the remainder of the choir arrived, we began our trek across the ocean with our international flight from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany. An eight-hour flight with a seven-hour time change left us landing in Frankfurt feeling disoriented and a little cranky, but, as is customary with college students, a quick run to re-caffeinate left us focused enough for our final jaunt from Frankfurt to here in Riga.

A smooth hour and a half flight with a final hour of additional time zone displacement left us on the ground in Latvia at 12:35 pm local time (4:35 am for those of you reading this in the Midwest). Energy was definitely diminished and patience was waning, but after a quick lunch break on the outskirts of town, we finally arrived at our hotel. After some fresh air, time to stretch our legs, and much-needed showers, we culminated our day of travel with a group dinner at the hotel.

With the meat-and-potatoes of the tour looming close ahead, the choir is absolutely ready to get started tomorrow morning. However, while that long day of travel may be the butt of several jokes over the next few days, the moments captured on Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat can reassure you that our journey eastward was not without a lot of fun.

As I come to the conclusion of my time in Drake Choir, the performances and presentations may show a very neat-and-tidy view of what choir was like, but the time spent roaming around O’Hare airport, or cracking jokes across the aisle of a 747 will hold just as much of a special place in my heart. Sure they aren’t picture-perfect, but they’re shared among friends, so they are still perfect.

Be sure to follow the choir as we continue our journey through the Baltic states and Finland. We cannot thank you enough for all the support you provide from Des Moines and beyond. This would not be possible without you. Until next time, Ardievas!

Drake International Tour Days 1 and 2 – Allison Richter, junior alto, accounting major

After arriving at the DSM Airport on Thursday morning at the later time of 9am (the first group’s report time was 6am!), our group flew out around 11:30am to Chicago, Illinois. The excitement everyone conveyed was contagious and to many of us, me especially, the trip was finally becoming real. After a short flight, our group joined up with the first group in the O’Hare airport to have lunch and prepare for our upcoming 8-hour flight to Frankfurt, Germany.

The flight to Frankfurt was long, but luckily we were able to fill the time by napping, watching movies, or even watching the plane’s cameras of the views from the front or bottom of the plane. This was my first time flying with Lufthansa, and for the first time I was hearing a lot of German and other languages being spoken. I even had to ask a few people to repeat themselves in English for me when I was talked to during the flight! It was an eye-opener that we weren’t even in Europe yet, but we had already entered another culture.

When we landed in Frankfurt, it was a little after 7 in the morning and it was bright and beautiful. Back in Des Moines it was 11pm. The 8-hour time difference had a lot of people feeling exhausted, but the excitement that we were almost to Riga, Latvia erased our fatigue. I finally got a window seat when we boarded the plane to Riga, and it was fantastic. I was able to see the beautiful Latvian countryside and lush, green forests as we flew in.

When we finally landed, it was just about 12pm in Latvia. We met up with our tour guides (Kÿlli and Gerard) in the airport, and off we went! All of us loaded onto two buses and went to a nice Latvian buffet for lunch. We all had fun trying new things, as most of us weren’t sure what we were ordering . The colorful mash I picked up ended up being a delicious hash brown dish. Others tried fish or bread or soup. I accidentally picked up a glass of milk (well, I thought it was!), and it actually tasted like liquid sour cream! It wasn’t my cup of tea, but I saw a lot of other Latvians getting it so I assumed it was something Latvian I should try.

When we were finished eating, we headed to our hotel in Riga, called the Albert Hotel, as our guides gave us some facts and background about the city on the way. We had some free time before dinner so I relaxed with some friends and walked around the nieghborhood for a little while. For dinner, we had a delicious salad, a fish dish, and a delectable cheesecake for dessert in the hotel. After that, I caught up on some much-needed sleep!! Tomorrow, we will begin our activities and concerts. All of us are really excited! It is so fun to be travelling in such a large group, and all of us are friends. We were thankful to have safe and easy flights to Riga and are excited for what we will do and accomplish in the next few weeks. Stay tuned!