Chamber Singers Seek Support for Tour

Chamber Singers Seek Support for Tour

ULV Chamber Singers posed in front of the historic Kohl's Fountainat Prague Castlein the Czech Republic in 2024, while experiencing an impactful opportunity performing across Europe and engaging with new cultures in. (ULV Photo/Claudia Gonzalez).

Students prepare medieval music for historic church performances while working to fund a $30,000 tour

The University of La Verne Chamber Singers are preparing to take their music overseas, but they still need to close a funding gap to make the trip possible.

The 26-voice ensemble is working to raise $30,000 to support an international tour through Germany and Austria. The group is set to perform in historic venues including St. Stephen's Cathedral, Mirabell Gardens, St. Michael's Churchand at the renowned Peter and Paul Festival, one of Europe's largest cultural celebrations.

"All proceeds will go directly towards student travel funds," said Clarissa Shan, director of choral activities and vocal studies. "This helps us get airplane tickets, rent transportation, and ultimately make this experience accessible to all students."

That accessibility is critical. "If we didn't have these scholarships, I would only be able to bring people who could pay," Shan said. "It's not equitable. This is a lifetime educational experience."

For this tour, students are preparing a program that reaches back centuries. That includes medieval and early sacred music which they will perform in spaces where many of these compositions were originally sung.

"We're not just learning notes and rhythms," said Shan. "We're studying the history, language, and style of this music so students can perform it in a way that connects to where it came from."

For students, the stakes are personal. Junior theatre arts major Nathan Terrazas says financial support through academic scholarships has shaped his entire college experience. "It means that I'm able to have an education," he said. "Without the scholarship, I wouldn't be able to attend a four-year university or participate in theater and music."

After taking part in performances in Prague and Pilsen, Czech Republic, and Bretten Germany in 2024, Terrazas knows firsthand the impact an opportunity like this can have.

Lauren Sandoval, junior kinesiology major, put it more directly: "I probably wouldn't even be at school. There's just no way to afford it."

Now, as they prepare to step into some of Europe's most historic spaces, the opportunity before them is more than performance. It's about access and the chance for every voice in the ensemble to be heard on a global stage. With the community's support, this tour becomes more than a trip. It becomes a defining moment in each student's education, one that will resonate long after the final note fades.

Donations can be made to support the ULV Chamber Singers' European performance tour here.