Elizabethtown College’s Concert Choir and Fenice Choir traveled to Ireland earlier this summer to perform at four historic cathedrals and churches. Together, there were 42 students, three faculty, and two friends of the College on the tour.
“Traveling overseas offers an opportunity to meet new people, see how different cultures interact, and to gain a sense of self in the broader world,” Elizabethtown College Professor of Music, Matthew Fritz said. “Spending time together as a group allows them to have a taste of the study abroad experience.”
The group performed a diverse selection of repertoire in Ireland, including traditional American music like spirituals, Gaelic and Irish hymns, and Irish folk music. They also performed music in French, Latin, and Spanish.
Students started their journey in Dublin, rehearsing and performing at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. While there, they visited the Dublinia Viking Museum.
“We had the perfect mix of performing most days, but also having some days off to see the country,” Music Therapy major Lorelei Eck ’25 said. “We were so privileged to have professors who are willing to work as hard as they do to expose us to different cultures and places.”
Next, the students arrived in Sligo, performing at Drumcliffe Church. They had a free evening to explore Sligo, with the choice of traveling to Fairy Bridges, Bundoran Beach, or Bundoran Adventure Park. As a group, they also explored the Sliabh Liag Cliff.
After Sligo, students went to Derry, visiting the Peace Bridge and learning more about the Bloody Sunday Movement. They then performed at St. Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast. Students had a chance to explore the northern coast of Northern Ireland, visiting historical sites such as the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, Giant’s Causeway, and Dunluce Castle.
The choirs’ fourth concert was in Galway Cathedral for an evening mass. Before the concert, they visited the Cliffs of Moher. Also in Galway was the choir banquet at John Keough’s Gastropub. Students had a free day to explore Dublin before heading back to Etown.
Concert Choir is an auditioned ensemble of students from multiple majors, performing everything from Renaissance motets to spirituals and modern compositions. Fenice is a gender-inclusive treble voice auditioned ensemble and is comprised of students from many majors at Etown.
Students in the Department of Music at Elizabethtown College enjoy the opportunity to perform in five major ensembles; participate in chamber music, recitals, internships and research, and develop a well-rounded and practical knowledge of the discipline of music. Discover more.
