The JUVE Academic Choir performed to a full house in Vienna
The JUVE Academic Choir performed to a packed Peter’s Church in Vienna. See also the slideshow at the bottom of the page.
How important are international exchanges for a choir? If you ask Dan Boberg and the members of JUVE, who have just returned from a trip to Vienna, the answer is obvious.
“It created an even stronger sense of unity within the choir. It was a learning experience for both the choir and the individual members. You could tell that the atmosphere within the group yielded results musically,” he says.
The Academic Choir, Jönköping University Vocal Ensemble (JUVE), has performed on many occasions, such as academic ceremonies, graduation ceremonies and degree conferment ceremonies, and not least on Valborg during the traditional celebrations on campus.
Two years ago, the Vienna University of Technology (TUW) contacted JUVE via the EULiST university partnership, of which both institutions are members. Then, there was talk of organizing an exchange, and this past weekend’s trip to Vienna is the first result.
“It was a great success; we are very pleased with this opportunity. We are grateful for the warm welcome from our hosts in Vienna, of course, but also for the invaluable support that both Jönköping University and the Hamrin Foundation have given us,” says Dan Boberg, choir director of JUVE.
Packed to the rafters
As well as socializing and making new contacts, two concerts were given during the trip. On Friday, the choir performed alongside the woodwind section of the TUW orchestra in the Baroque Peterskirche church in central Vienna; a concert for a full house.
“It was an incredible experience to sing together there; I’ll never forget it. And as Dan says, it really produced a brilliant musical result. The concert was packed to the rafters and then some. I think all of us in the choir felt very elated and grateful to be there,” says Sofia Utas, who sings in the choir.
The second main event of the trip was a concert together with the TUW choir. Both choirs first performed their own music, and to conclude, both choirs sang together, despite having only rehearsed together a few times.
“Meeting them in Vienna was brilliant, both in terms of the musical and cultural exchange. After the concert, we socialized, and I think many of us, from both Sweden and Austria, felt that we’d very much like to meet again. Perhaps it could be in Sweden next time,” says Sofia Utas.
Supported by JU and Hamrin Foundation
This weekend’s exchange trip was made possible by the support provided by both Jönköping University and the Hamrin Foundation. For the Hamrin Foundation, this was an opportunity to support activities that help to strengthen academic culture, artistic education and international exchange.
“Collaborations, such as the one with Technische Universität Wien, create meeting places that transcend national and disciplinary boundaries and offer participants opportunities for personal development. This is very much in line with the Foundation’s ambition to promote education and culture within academia,” says Hanna Ståhl, CEO of the Hamrin Foundation.
