Advertisement His graduation gift — a European tour.
Logan, who will be a freshman at Central High School in the fall, and 20 other members of the La Crosse Boychoir‘s Touring Choir gave nine performances during a two-week concert tour of Austria and Germany in June.
“The cathedrals and churches were amazing, and the acoustics were unbelievable,” Logan said. “The acoustics really let us open our voices.”
Logan, who sang with the choir for 41/2 years, said he enjoyed the cultural experiences, from staying with host families to visiting the historical sites.
“I had a chance to shoot bow and arrow with a dad who was a big archer with a bunch of medals,” he said. “My favorite memory is probably learning about the culture and experiencing it all with my good friends.”
The tour was the choir’s ninth European tour, but the first one since 2001. The choir toured Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Munich and other European cities.
“It was a wonderful tour, and the kids stepped up with some pretty good concerts,” said Judy Stafslien, the choir’s director. “The kids were pretty amazed at what they saw, and they were open to everything.”
Stafslien said the choir received standing ovations and gave some encores. One music professor said after a concert, “‘This is the America everyone should see,’” Stafslien said.
In one of the towns, the boys received soccer balls as gifts because the European soccer championships were held in Vienna. The boys also went to the Dachau concentration camp.
Sam Scheidt, 12, who will be a seventh-grader at Aquinas Middle School in the fall, said he couldn’t get over the “amazing scenery” and the beautiful churches.
“I also enjoyed being around so many people who have the same interest in singing,” Sam said. “I thought it was interesting that people came from all over to see us perform.”
His 9-year-old brother, Ryan, a soon-to-be fourth-grader at Blessed Sacrament, said he liked the combination of concerts and sightseeing.
“It was so much fun,” Ryan said. “I liked singing in the churches and going to all the cool places.”
Caleb Hawkins, 9, who will be a fourth-grader at Emerson Elementary School, said the trip included his first time on a mountaintop.
“I have never been that high except in the plane,” Caleb said. “I liked the salt mines, and the churches were pretty with a great sound.”
Caleb said the tour helped the boys bond and sing better as a group.
“People liked our singing,” he said. “I thought it was a great trip.”
Stafslien said she hopes most of the choir members will return this fall. She lost only four boys to graduation — because their voices changed.
“We really should have a good group of boys returning with some experience,” Stafslien said.
AUDITIONS
WHAT: La Crosse Boychoir fall auditions
WHEN: 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 7, Room 408, Viterbo University Fine Arts Center; and 5 to 6 p.m. Sept. 8, Room 435, Viterbo University Fine Arts Center
OPEN: Boys ages 7 to 12 are eligible to audition
CONTACT: For more information, call (608) 796-3787.
Terry Rindfleisch can be reached at trindfleisch@lacrossetribune.com or (608) 791-8227.
