“We all felt the weight of what it means to be an American choir abroad right now—traveling to a country with whom we share such a complicated history.”
So says Gustavus Choir conductor Brandon Dean, about a Gustavus ensemble touring Japan, a distinctly Eastern country uniquely aligned with the Western world, for the first time.
Also, it was only the second tour under a new schedule. (Last year’s Jazz and Symphony tour to Ireland and Scotland was the first to tour in May instead of January.) “It’s a totally different vibe than touring in January,” says manager of music tour and fine arts Coleden Wedge ’20. “No one is worried about coming back to their spring semester. They’re ready to enjoy.” For the seniors, which made up half of this year’s G Choir, they were done done. This tour was the ultimate end of their time at Gustavus.
Best of all, this tour delivered an unprecedented commitment to cultural musical exchange. Almost all performances happened in partnership with local Japanese ensembles, and several were shared concerts in which Japanese choir ensembles and the Gustavus Choir each prepared two pieces of music—one in Japanese and one in English—then performed together. Thirty alumni also joined the tour, with seven singing in the choir.
It wasn’t just music shared. Students hung out after each concert. Many now follow each other on social media. “It was amazing to get to sing together and have time to make friends,” says tenor Ben Fahrenz ’26. “I was able to bond over the Chicago Cubs with some students in Kyoto. I’ll never forget the Japanese student telling us about our piece, ‘Akatonbo,’ a song from his childhood that reminds him that even if we are far apart, we all look at the same sunset.”
THE FIRST SIGX TOUR
Study away experiences—including music tours—are now designated Gustavus Signature Experiences. The Japan experience is where new curriculum met a traditional tour, though G Choir has been touring in a somewhat SigX way for a long while, with extensive pre-trip cultural preparation. This year, as a true SigX, G Choir students met every Friday for a course taught by Japanese studies professor Lianying Shan. They also met with music professor Yumiko Oshima- Ryan and history professor David Tôbaru Obermiller.
Students learned Japanese culture and nuance, and basic language. When they returned, students completed a reflection about what they learned, how they grew, and why it matters. As for the experiential learning portion of SigX, those who’ve been on a Gustavus music tour will understand the true immersion of the experience: adapting in real time to new venues, groups, audiences, and life in a whole new world, musically and otherwise.
$135,000
That's the amount of scholarship funds given—more than ever before—thanks (in part) to three years of Applause for the Cause. This year’s Fine Arts-specific giving day raised $233,557.
At Kansai Gaidai University, the Gustavus Choir (along with President John Volin and his wife, Valeria) brought gifts and tidings to the College’s 52-year cultural exchange partner.
