CUI Music Tour in Germany

I had the opportunity to be embedded for a few days with a group of incredibly talented musicians from Concordia University Irvine as they traveled throughout a few cities in Germany.  This music tour was in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation that began in 1517 with Martin Luther in Wittenberg, Germany. CUI sent their choir and orchestra to perform in historical churches, learn about the religious history and soak up the local culture. Watching these students perform in gorgeous, massive old cathedrals was a sight to behold. There were constant goosebumps and tears in my eyes during these performances.

The first stop was Berlin. Here they performed in the spectacular Berliner Dom, using the massive space and heavenly acoustics to their full advantage. It was seriously so incredible.  Honestly, this performance is up there is some of my favorite live musical moments of my life.  After Berlin we then traveled to the small town of Wittenberg, the home of the Reformation.  Martin Luther was a professor of theology, local preacher and where he famously posted the ’95 Theses’ on the door of the All Saints’ Church.  The students performed at this same church and had many locals and visitors in the audience breaking down in tears. The choir also did an amazing, impromptu performance of the Luther-penned hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” right in the town square with no rehearsal. We continued on to a short stop in Leipzig for a tour and to learn about a small local musician and named Johann Sebastian Bach, just possibly the greatest composer of all time.  The choir did an informal performance at the very church where he worked as a organist and wrote much of his music, which was so special to these students who have studied and revered his work. We ended the day in the beautiful town of Erfurt (my personal favorite).  This is where Luther went to study and it is still a thriving university town today. Erfurt was spared bombing raids during WWII, so it mostly looks as it did 500 years ago. My final stop with the crew was a half day in the town of Eisenach, the hometown of Bach, where they visited his childhood home, converted now into a museum to his life’s work. At high noon, the CUI brass orchestra had the great opportunity to perform in the clock tower overlooking the town square to announce the local time, just as musicians did in years’ past.

It was such an enriching time and I was so honored to be among such talented, young musicians in places that have inspired each and every one of them to their very core as musicians and Christians.

Here are some slices of their experiences.

 

Berlin, Germany

 

Wittenberg, Germany

 

Leipzig, Germany

 

Erfurt, Germany

 

Eisenach, Germany