PEORIA, Ill. — The Bradley University Chorale is set to embark on what, for many, is a once-in-a-lifetime quest.
The 50-member group was invited to sing at the 2020 Prague International Choral Festival, an annual summer event.
There, they are scheduled to perform with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra and other groups from the Czech Republic and beyond.
Chorale conductor Dr. Cory Ganschow said the invitation came from the heads of the festival, who are Ganschow’s professional acquaintances.
She said the combination of the chance to conduct and to bring the Bradley students was too much to pass up.
“Anymore, it’s very difficult for choirs to go on tour overseas because students are working full-time and it’s very expensive,” she said.
“In this setting, in order to be in an ensemble like this with everybody who’s very like-minded and passionate about the same thing, that doesn’t outside of college very often or very easily.
“Many of these students will not the opportunity to go to Prague again, either financially or logistically, so to be able to provide this for them is just an awesome opportunity,” she added.
Ganschow said the group will be conducting fundraising events leading up to the trip to help offset some of the costs.
This would be the first time the Bradley Chorale as an organization has performed in Prague.