Carey Chorale performs in London

Earlier this summer, William Carey University voice students toured London and the surrounding area for a week of workshops and performances in some of England’s most iconic churches – Canterbury Cathedral, Holy Trinity Church, Rochester Cathedral, and Trinity College Chapel at Cambridge University.

“Each church was breathtaking. Walking through them felt like stepping back into history,” said Lauren McElhenny, a member of the Carey Chorale.

“I have never felt in such perfect sync and harmony with any choir. At our first concert, one of our directors put the experience in perspective when he said, ‘Today your voices joined the voices of others who have sung praises to God for hundreds of years – and they will echo in these halls forever.’”

The July 6-12 trip was organized by two faculty members from the Winters School of Music: Dr. Joel Dunlap, chair of choral activities and performance, and Dr. Brian Murphy, coordinator of piano studies, who also performed during the concerts.

“We’ve talked about giving the Carey Chorale an experience like this and it was great to see it happen. We collaborated with Vox Anima of London, which creates performance and educational opportunities for visiting choirs. Several members of the Meistersingers were also able to join us,” Dunlap said.

The Carey Chorale’s tour included a master class with Neil Ferris, director of the BBC Symphony Chorus, a mid-day a cappella recital, and two performances with the Gesualdo Six, considered one of the leading small vocal ensembles in the world.

Here are a few more thoughts from students, both as performers and visitors:

• Isiah Routon: “On our first day, we took a short walk from our hotel to see Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Parliament Square and Big Ben. Our concerts in Rochester Cathedral and Trinity College Chapel will always be among the most surreal experiences of my life – not only did I sing, I also played the historic 300-year-old organs housed at these churches.”
• Thomas Roper: “I decided to go because I wanted to immerse myself in a different culture, see places I’ve only read about, and perform in beautiful and historic spaces. Each one had unique acoustics, and it was amazing to hear how our sound changed and filled each room. The most important thing I learned is how music can connect people across various cultures and backgrounds.”
• Hannah Lee Holm: “When we weren’t workshopping, rehearsing or performing, we would break into small groups and sightsee, just pick a direction and walk until we saw something cool. There were so many different kinds of people, from all over, looking at the same things as us. Two huge differences between the U.S. and England stood out to me – lack of air-conditioning and ice cubes!”

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