Choir tours again, shares voice abroad

The Gonzaga University Chamber Choir traveled  to Shanghai and Beijing, China over spring break sharing their vocal talents with three local schools.

The choir's first performance was at Shanghai University, where it sang a Chinese folk song called, "Crescent moon now floating by," to the university choir. The Shanghai choir then performed its version of the piece for their visitors. After, both choirs combined as one and performed the song together.

"This was one of those moments that was just mind blowing," junior Brandon Garnreiter said. "It was like something out of a movie."

An audience of more than a thousand attended Gonzaga Choir's second performance at Jiatong University in Shanghai.

"We had a huge theater to fill and we didn't know what the response was going to be," Gonzaga Choir Director Irene Messoloras said. "To capture their attention and for them to be so appreciative was wonderful."

"We only printed 500 programs for each concert," Garnreiter said. "But it seemed like everyone on that campus was there."

The Gonzaga choir performed a mix of folk and spiritual music as well as Broadway tunes.
"Through our performance we were able to tell them about Gonzaga, what our mission is and it was so well received," Messoloras said. "They treated us like rock stars."
 "They started chanting ‘encore'," Garnreiter said. "That was amazing."

The Gonzaga choir ventured to Beijing for their last performance at a music conservatory. 
"The audience was overwhelmed by the choral excellence that the choir exhibited and we were invited to come back," Messoloras said. "It was so fulfilling. All the time, the hours of rehearsal put into it was worth it."

Aside from sharing their vocal talents, members of the Gonzaga choir had the opportunity to visit museums, go sight seeing and get a taste of the Chinese culture.

"In one week we got to see the major sites, like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall and we got to eat the most interesting foods," Messoloras said. "Definitely a trip of a lifetime."
 "We learned so much. Not only about the Chinese culture, but I think all of us discovered that we are all a better choir than we gave ourselves credit for," Garnreiter said. "It was a heck of an experience. Exhausting, but amazing."

The trip would not have occurred without Gonzaga University Relations' $60,000 donation, Messoloras said.

"I think it's part of the Gonzaga mission to reach out and explore different cultures," Messoloras said. "Asia is unique and an opportunity of a lifetime. The dean was so supportive and really allowed us to take off."

The choir has not traveled abroad since May 2004, when it performed in France under the instruction of Ed Schaefer. Since Schaefer's retirement four years ago, the choir has had five different directors, according to Garnreiter.

"It's been really sporadic," Dan Neumeyer said. "We didn't have a leader so we all banded together a lot since we were the only consistency in the group."

Messoloras took on the directing role in the spring of 2009, when the choir consisted of 70 members. That spring the choir went on a recruitment tour in Seattle, performing at five Catholic schools. In fall of 2009, the choir went on a second recruitment tour in Portland, Ore.

Today, the Gonzaga choir boasts 164 members.

Under the direction of Messoloras, the choir has performed master works every semester since spring 2009. Currently it is working on "Mozart Requiem in D minor," which they will perform in April at the Fox Theater.

"She's definitely grown the program a lot," Neumeyer said. "We have a lot more people than we used to, we're performing these famous works and touring as well. She's creating good opportunities for everyone."

"She's going to take the choir to amazing places," Garnreiter said. "She wants Gonzaga to be known and I feel like it actually will get to that point one day. I don't doubt that she has the ability and determination to make sure that happens."

"It's really them alone, really empowering themselves. They're so passionate about wanting to be a part of something great," Messoloras said. "I couldn't be more excited for this group of kids. They're so smart and have the power and talents to really go far."