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USC Concert Choir set to embark on musical journey to Germany, Austria BY KURT LING THE GAMECOCK The USC Concert Choir will soon embark upon a musical pilgrimage to the birth places of the music featured on its program this year. The journey, Dec. 28 to Jan 8, will take the choir to Germany and Austria for 12 frosty days. About 35 members of the Concert Choir will give at least eight per formances, primarily in cathedrals and monasteries in Vienna, Salzburg and Munich. When they aren’t practicing or perform ing, they will be taking in the sights. The choir’s tours will be musically themed. They’ll visit the home of famous composers such as Schubert and Mozart, as well as the site where The Sound of Music was filmed. The Concert Choir has been invited to attend the Emperor’s Ball on New Year’s Eve, which has excited many choir mem bers. Fourth-year political science major Katie Widhalm said, “I called my mom and we both screamed.” The invitation-only, white-tie gala will be held at the Imperial Palace, and many heads of state will be in attendance. Choir members say they have grown THf^AMECOCK THE MIX close having practiced together since the beginning of the semester. Members are both music and non-music majors, and many have been a part of Concert Choir for years. “It is a very social group,” said Nikki Hudspeth, Concert Choir vice president. “We really enjoy getting together. We have a good overall spirit.” The man in charge of fostering that spirit is Dr. Larry Wyatt, the choir’s director for 14 years. He has led them through such places as Spain, England, France, Germany Austria, Czech Republic, Jerusalem and the American South. But he said the tour of Europe is by far the most special. “I’ve never seen any one trip have such enormous po tential for life changing experiences,” he said. Fundraising for the trip has been a high priority for the students. Though the school of music contributes $500 per student, each student must pay $1,400. The costs, however, are being defrayed by sales of two Concert Choir CDs, one Christmas music and one Gospel music They are available for $15 each. Choir members have set up a raffle for prizes such as $200 cash and tickets to the USC Florida football game. They are also in the process of putting together a tour program that businesses and parents can buy ads. The choir has toured Europe on numer ous occasions. They’ve sung before the pope and countless royalty and performed three concerts with the Jerusalem Symphony In 1992, they were invited to the illustrious Bicentennial Mozart in Concert series in Alice Tully Hall at the famous Lincoln Center in New York. The choir’s versatility was ex ercised in March of 2000 when selected mem bers and the USC Left Bank Big Band stormed jazz-loving Paris to deliver pieces by Duke Ellington. That trip saw them in yet more overwhelming concert venues such as the Notre Dame and Canterbury cathedrals. MOM DAD MOM DAD MOM DAD MOM DAD MOM DAD MOM DAD MOM DAD MOM DAD MOM DAD MOM DAD AT The Russell House Bookstore STADIUM STORE! Where your purciiases benefit toUi you and the sctiobrsbip programs of (ISC. 1 find all your sideline apparel <£ spiritwear, and tailgating needs! • Great gift ideas! • flew Tab styles arriving this weekend! (OCjdW /[ THl WM EJ©10M ^^ug maV ^ k purchased at various other stations throughout the stadium) GAMlCOCXGlAX.COM Go Gamecocks - Beat Wofford