Bay choirs sing in Germany, Austria - News - Panama City News Herald - Panama City, FL
Bay choirs sing in Germany, Austria
By Rich Filippi | Special to News Herald
Dec 20, 2018 at 11:05 AM Dec 20, 2018 at 11:05 AM
Less than two months after Hurricane Michael ravaged Panama City, a group of teens traveled to Europe to represent Bay County and Florida at the Silent Night International Music Festival in Germany and Austria.
Students from the Bay and Mosley high school choirs, their choir directors, parents and some adult members of the Emerald Coast Chorale traveled first to Munich, Germany.
"After Hurricane Michael, we weren't sure we would be able to attend, as all school district travel events were cancelled," said Bay High School Choir Director Julia House. "But Superintendent Bill Husfelt graciously granted the group permission to continue rather than losing this special once in a life-time opportunity to represent Bay County, Florida and the United States."
In Munich, the group joined in a city tour, visited a Christmas market and were entertained with a musical dinner at the famed Hofbrau Haus. The next day they drove to Salzburg, Austria, on the way visiting King Ludwig II's fairytale castle Neuschwanstein. The group stayed in Salzburg for three days, performing a cappella American Christmas songs in front of the great Salzburg Dom cathedral and exploring the city of Mozart.
The next day they continued visiting city sights — including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's home — and performed in the Mozarteum, the city's main concert hall, with several other musical groups. Built in the neo-baroque style, the Mozarteum University concert hall has amazing acoustics. The group received a standing ovation for their exceptional 30-minute performance.
"It was a great honor to be invited to the Silent Night Music Festival. Our students performed wonderfully," said Mosley High School Choir Director Jody Schell.
The choir next drove to Oberndorf, a small mountain village an hour from Salzburg, where they performed Christmas music with another choir and the Ohio State University Alumni Band on the site of the original chapel where "Silent Night" was first performed 200 years ago. The finale was the singing of "Silent Night" in both English and in the original German. It was a very magical and memorable moment.
Oberndorf's vice mayor presented each music director with certificates marking their historic performances. The choir then returned to Salzburg for a traditional German meal. The next day, they moved on to Oberammergau, Germany, where for nearly 400 years the original Passion Play has taken place. Every ten years, the entire town participates in this event to honor God for saving them from the Black Plague. Their next performance is in 2020.
At Oberammergau, the choir performed Christmas songs in the Passion Play Theater and at the Ammergauer Haus Concert Hall in a program with other musical groups. Later, there was time for visiting the Christmas Market and a hearty German meal. The next day took them to nearby Ettal, where they performed in the Benedictine Abby's great baroque church. The church's acoustics were extraordinary.
"I wept at this very memorable a cappella performance by American young people in our historic 400-year old church," said Dr. Hurbert Hering, director of the Ettal Gymnasium (school).
Afterward, the choir was given private tours of the abby and its private boarding school by German students of their same age. The last day was free of any concert obligations, so the group drove to the alpine town of Garmish-Partenkirchen and rode a cog train up to the Zugspitz, the highest peak in the German Alps, to play in the snow. For most, it was their first time overseas and their first time in the snow.
Bay choirs sing in Germany, Austria - News - Panama City News Herald - Panama City, FL
Bay choirs sing in Germany, Austria
By Rich Filippi | Special to News Herald
Dec 20, 2018 at 11:05 AM Dec 20, 2018 at 11:05 AM
Less than two months after Hurricane Michael ravaged Panama City, a group of teens traveled to Europe to represent Bay County and Florida at the Silent Night International Music Festival in Germany and Austria.
Students from the Bay and Mosley high school choirs, their choir directors, parents and some adult members of the Emerald Coast Chorale traveled first to Munich, Germany.
"After Hurricane Michael, we weren't sure we would be able to attend, as all school district travel events were cancelled," said Bay High School Choir Director Julia House. "But Superintendent Bill Husfelt graciously granted the group permission to continue rather than losing this special once in a life-time opportunity to represent Bay County, Florida and the United States."
In Munich, the group joined in a city tour, visited a Christmas market and were entertained with a musical dinner at the famed Hofbrau Haus. The next day they drove to Salzburg, Austria, on the way visiting King Ludwig II's fairytale castle Neuschwanstein. The group stayed in Salzburg for three days, performing a cappella American Christmas songs in front of the great Salzburg Dom cathedral and exploring the city of Mozart.
The next day they continued visiting city sights — including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's home — and performed in the Mozarteum, the city's main concert hall, with several other musical groups. Built in the neo-baroque style, the Mozarteum University concert hall has amazing acoustics. The group received a standing ovation for their exceptional 30-minute performance.
"It was a great honor to be invited to the Silent Night Music Festival. Our students performed wonderfully," said Mosl
ey High School Choir Director Jody Schell.
The choir next drove to Oberndorf, a small mountain village an hour from Salzburg, where they performed Christmas music with another choir and the Ohio State University Alumni Band on the site of the original chapel where "Silent Night" was first performed 200 years ago. The finale was the singing of "Silent Night" in both English and in the original German. It was a very magical and memorable moment.
Oberndorf's vice mayor presented each music director with certificates marking their historic performances. The choir then returned to Salzburg for a traditional German meal. The next day, they moved on to Oberammergau, Germany, where for nearly 400 years the original Passion Play has taken place. Every ten years, the entire town participates in this event to honor God for saving them from the Black Plague. Their next performance is in 2020.
At Oberammergau, the choir performed Christmas songs in the Passion Play Theater and at the Ammergauer Haus Concert Hall in a program with other musical groups. Later, there was time for visiting the Christmas Market and a hearty German meal. The next day took them to nearby Ettal, where they performed in the Benedictine Abby's great baroque church. The church's acoustics were extraordinary.
"I wept at this very memorable a cappella performance by American young people in our historic 400-year old church," said Dr. Hurbert Hering, director of the Ettal Gymnasium (school).
Afterward, the choir was given private tours of the abby and its private boarding school by German students of their same age. The last day was free of any concert obligations, so the group drove to the alpine town of Garmish-Partenkirchen and rode a cog train up to the Zugspitz, the highest peak in the German Alps, to play in the snow. For most, it was their first time overseas and their first time in the snow.