Most students finish school for the year, go home, and start working. The members of the Lycoming College Tour Choir started their summer vacation by working their voices and language skills as they embarked on a tour of Spain.

The tour gave the choir the opportunity to share music with another culture as well as to learn more about the Spanish way of life. The choir left the United States on May 15 and returned 10 days later.

Traveling to Spain allowed the choir to perform concerts in some incredible venues. The choir performed mainly in churches but also sang in a theater and at a university.

The tour gave the choir the opportunity to share music with The tour started off with a performance in the Church of La Trinidad in Córdoba. This was followed the next night by a concert at the Conservatorio Superior de Musica in Córdoba where the composer of one of the choir’s songs was present.

At the small town of Priego de la Córdoba the choir performed at the Teatro Victoria. An afternoon concert was presented for students at the University of Granada where the students of Lycoming bonded with their Spanish counterparts. When the choir returned to Madrid, a concert was presented at the Church of Our Lady of Concepcion. The final concert was in Segovia at the historic church of St. Justo which was built in the 12th century.

However, the choir did not just sing. Amid the concerts, students had the opportunity to sightsee.

Churches, palaces and museums topped the list of places frequented by the culture-absorbing choir. In Córdoba most students visited the Mezquita-Catedral, a combination mosque and cathedral that blended Christian, Jewish and Islamic influences. The beautiful gardens and Moorish palace called the Alcázar was another attraction in Córdoba that students visited.

In the town of Priego de Córdoba, the choir was given a walking tour of the small town by a local guide. The choir members received an unexpected treat when they were able to perform a song in the entry way to the Alhambra, a beautiful palace in Granada. During a day trip to Toledo, students visited the Cathedral there or the Church of Santo Tome that houses famous paintings.

In Segovia, the choir members took a bus tour of the city and saw Roman aqueducts from the first century .

During a free day in Madrid, members visited museums, gardens, shops and restaurants.

Some choir members attended a Spanish soccer game and others visited the palace and church where Prince Philip of Spain was married.

Members of the choir said they enjoyed the trip and returned with memories that will last the rest of their lives.

Senior choir member Pam Tipler commented, “Being able to go to Spain with the most amazing people is going to go down as one of my favorite memories ever! The countryside was beautiful, and so was the music we produced. When you put a group of people together that care about each other so much, you can really feel it in the music.”

Junior Adam Greger also enjoyed the trip, but had a different perspective. “Going to Spain made me realize how many things we (Americans) take for granted on a daily base. You don’t realize what you have until you can’t have it. It’s humbling for Americans," he said.

Senior Krystal Ray added, “I am so thankful to have had this awesome opportunity. The beauty of the history, the scenery, the music and the people is unforgettable.”

The tour choir includes 40 members that are chosen each fall through competitive auditions. The choir is directed by Dr. Fred Thayer. Thayer remained in Spain for a sabbatical for the fall 2004 semester and is working in Bolivia. While Thayer is gone, the choir is directed by Richard Lakey and Charles Masters for the fall semester.

This year’s tentative tour choir schedule includes two weekend tours during the spring semester, a 10-day tour during Spring Break, and a special joint performance with the band.

The first weekend tour will be in western Pennsylvania. The second weekend tour is to include a performance at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, N.J., and a tentative performance at St. John the Divine, the largest Gothic cathedral in New York City.

This year’s spring break tour of the Carolinas and Georgia is to include stops in Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Savannah and Hilton Head.

The tour choir is looking forward to the tours for this year.