The Glee Club prepares for a rehearsal in Differdange, Luxembourg May 27. (Contributed by Wyko Ter Haar)
On May 18, a portion of the Miami University's Men's Glee Club embarked from Oxford, Ohio, for a trip to Europe. The aptly named "EuroTour 2011" had begun. Along with Glee Club Director Jeremy Jones, the group set out for approximately two weeks in Europe, visiting countries such as Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
Along with the typical sightseeing that ensues when a bunch of students visit Europe, the Glee Club had the opportunity to perform multiple times for a vast array of audiences.
Brussels was the first stop. Members enjoyed a tour of the city complete with a dinner in the main plaza of the town. Views such as the Atomium and the Mannekin Pis will certainly stick with everyone.
On the third day of the tour, the Glee Club sang for 15 minutes in the Köln Cathedral in Germany. The cathedral has a rich history, taking over 600 hundred years to complete. The exterior rises above the entire city and is easily the highlight of the town. The short set included Franz Biebl's Ave Maria, which, to the delight of everyone singing, echoed throughout the cathedral's walls.
Perhaps the tour's highlight came from the group's next concert in Mainz-Kostheim. Here, the group performed in a benefit concert for childhood cancer with the Mainz-Kostheim Maner Gesang Verein 1847 – essentially a German Men's Glee Club comprised of older men. This concert lasted for nearly three hours and was special for everybody involved. Both Glee Clubs received ovations from the large audience, who appreciated every note of the music.
The Glee Club then moved through Wiesbaden, Germany where small performances for American schools ensued.
After Germany came one of the most beautiful places on this planet: the Swiss Alps. Members explored Gimmelwald, ate cheese fondue halfway up a mountain and traveled by cable car to the Schilthorn Piz Gloria. This area is located high in the Alps, at around 10,000 feet. One small group of members even dared to climb this mountain, undertaking a grueling five-hour, 7,100 foot ascent. The Piz Gloria is seen in one of the James Bond movies. If you have every seen On Her Majesty's Secret Service, then this awe-inspiring location might be familiar.
Switzerland offered some incredible views, but the Glee Club soon moved on. Stuttgart, Germany, the home of Porsche, was the next stop. After a tour of the museum and many dreams of one day owning a vehicle made by Porsche, Luxembourg was within sight.
The group visited the central city and Miami's campus. Some members also participated in home stays with various locals, offering a unique experience.
The Glee Club returned to the United States May 31, bringing with them countless stories and pictures. This tour was certainly a highlight for many members' college experience as they combined travel with the goal of spreading music to many.
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Hamlin, a member of the Miami Men's Glee Club, joined the group on tour and shares his story here with readers of The Miami Student.
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