U. of U. Singers heading to Europe

Embarking on their first international concert tour, the University of Utah Singers are heading off to Europe next week. The choir may be made up of students, but according to director Brady Allred, they're in for a professional experience.

"A concert tour like this helps the students achieve a level of professional performance that they don't get to experience during the school year just because of the many opportunities to perform," he said. "We'll have at least 25 concerts while we're gone, and that really helps them to polish and learn to perform at a very, very high level. It's like a professional orchestra which would travel to a city, get settled, go rehearse and do a performance. Maybe they'll have a few hours to look around, but then they're off to the next city and then performing again."

The choir's schedule is packed with more than 26 performances in 28 days. Their itinerary includes France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Italy. They have also been selected by audition to participate in the Festival International de Chant Choral in Nancy, France, and the Florilge Vocal de Tours Festival, which is a competition.

Choir president Chris Mayfield said, "I'm really excited. I'm looking forward to having a musical experience that there's no other way to experience."

Even with a busy concert schedule, the students will get a chance to see some sights. "We're really excited to have some free time, to see the sights, to experience the culture," Mayfield added.

"We're going to be staying with host families several times, one in France, one in the Netherlands and one in Germany. (We're looking forward) to having those kinds of intercultural exchanges."

The festival and the competition are very prestigious, said Allred. "This year, we're the only American choir to be invited. The other choirs are coming from all over: Asia, South America, other European countries."

The choir has been working very hard.

They rehearse every day, Monday through Friday, and have additional retreats and concerts. "We have six hours of rehearsal a week," said Mayfield, "but usually something always every week outside of class, too . . . if you were to take all the time we spend together, it probably averages closer to 10 hours a week."

Allred said the choir has had to learn roughly 40 pieces — all memorized — for the tour.

Part of the reason they're preparing such a big selection is because of the specific requirements for the various venues.