Ending on a high note: Georgia Southern Chorale from Gretsch School of Music triumphant in international competition
The Georgia Southern Chorale, a choir of 30 students from 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music, earned top spots in an international choir competition this week in Germany. The group鈥檚 scores were nearly perfect, and the highest scores in the Chorale鈥檚 history in this particular competition.
As part of a 14-day trip to Germany, the students participated in the 鈥淪ing Berlin!鈥� International Choir Competition & Festival featuring professional, university and community choirs from around the world. The choir qualified thanks to success in previous international competitions.
鈥淚鈥檓 so proud of the Georgia Southern Chorale,鈥� said John Kraft, Ph.D., interim dean for the College of Arts and Humanities. 鈥淭heir performance in Germany was world class. They truly deserve their accolades.”
The Georgia Southern Chorale placed first in the 鈥淪acra鈥� and 鈥淢ixed Choir鈥� categories.
The group won in their respective categories in the same competition in recent years. Shannon Jeffreys, D.M.A., director of Choral Activities, called Germany a place of 鈥済ood luck鈥� for the Chorale.
鈥楾hey brought their A-game, and they delivered with grace and humility,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he spirit of this ensemble is to always bring their best. When it鈥檚 time to put on a show, this group puts on a show.鈥�
Jackson Murray, a senior with a double major in music education and vocal performance, traveled to Germany for the second time with the choir.
Before leaving, he was looking forward to relaxing more this time around. Now, he鈥檚 enjoying a trip while celebrating an international victory.
鈥淎ll we鈥檝e done since the competition is celebrate and have a good time,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e really had the best of both worlds. I鈥檝e won a competition and now I鈥檓 on vacation. It doesn鈥檛 get better than that.鈥�
Jeffreys said she鈥檚 not only impressed with the talent of the team, but the camaraderie the members share. Many of the students haven鈥檛 participated in a trip like this before, but the students acted as diplomats for their school.
鈥淭his choir this year is incredible not only in singing and spirit, but also unity,鈥� Jeffreys said. 鈥淏eing together in a small group like this for two weeks can be difficult, but I鈥檓 so proud of how they鈥檝e gotten along and diversified their friend groups and have gotten to know each other.鈥�
The choir departed for Germany on July 4 and returned July 17.
For more information about the Georgia Southern Chorale and their trip, visit .