A group of Lone Star College-Kingwood music students is back from a whirlwind trip to Ireland, where they showcased their incredible talents all while being immersed in meaningful cultural experiences.
The Kingwood Chorale, which is made up of community members as well as some LSC-Kingwood students, wrapped up their tour of the country, where they performed to great acclaim in Galway, Killarney, Waterford, and Dublin.
“Each performance was in a different type of acoustic and setting, and it was very educational to hear how the same repertoire changes its feel in different surroundings,” said Dr. Todd Miller, Professor and Conductor. “The students experienced things musically but were also able to hear about 2,000 years of Irish history as presented by local historians.”
While there, the group visited sites like The Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, Connemara National Park, and the famed Ring of Kerry. They also saw some ancient monastic ruins and performed in a 1,000-year-old chapel. They strolled in Trinity College-Dublin where the famous Book of Kells is on display.
“Exploring the diverse landscapes, from the serene countryside to the vibrant cities, across numerous towns in Ireland has been nothing short of enchanting,” shared student Clarissa Kimbrell. “It's been a revelation witnessing the universal language of music in action, seamlessly uniting people from all walks of life. I'm utterly amazed by the wealth of knowledge and experiences gained during this remarkable journey.”
Dr. Miller said he felt the most meaningful cultural experience was sharing a concert with the Irish choirs in the historic Waterford town hall, where abolitionist Frederick Douglass gave a speech in 1845.
The sold-out concert featured the Kingwood Chorale singing American Music, while the Irish choir sang music from Irish composers. At the end the two choirs sang an Irish and American piece together in a show of solidarity.
The Irish choirs also presented Dr. Miller with a vase of Waterford Crystal with the engraving “Voices Across the Atlantic: Waterford, 2024,” which was the title of the concert.
Kimbrell says the trip was the experience of a lifetime. “I am overflowing with gratitude towards Lone Star College and the Kingwood community for their unwavering support in propelling me towards my educational aspirations.”
The entire Kingwood Chorale and LSC-Kingwood students who sang on the tour will be performing in Kingwood, on June 15th, at 7:30 p.m. at Strawbridge United Methodist Church. You can purchase tickets here.
Lone Star College enrolls over 80,000 students each semester providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Mario K. Castillo, J.D. serves as Chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area. LSC has been named a 2023 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education and recognized by Fortune Magazine and Great Place To Work® as one of this year’s Best Workplaces in Texas™. LSC consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit Lonestar.edu.
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