ABOUT THE CLUB >> news
Enthusiastic Audience Greets Glee Club in Lodz, Poland
The UNI Varsity Men's Glee Club performed before a wonderful audience in the Polish city of Lodz on Wednesday, May 14th, 2008. It was standing-room only at the Lodzki Dom Kultury, where the men shared the concert stage with Juvenales Cantores Lodzienses, a local young women's choir. After the Glee Club opened the performance, the thirty young women sang mostly acapella works by Polish composers. Following the women's performance there was a brief question and answer session with the audience. One question began, "You've been to many wonderful places all around Europe; what has brought you here to Poland and central Europe?" Dr. Barrett replied "For many years the political situation in your country limited our knowledge of this particular culture and the music of your people. In the last few years, these boundaries have been removed and we are drawn to this type of music that your young women sang. Those are pieces that choral directors in the United States would be really interested in performing." Another audience member asked how many Glee Club members were of Polish descent. Andrew Gelbowitz and Cory Sevald responded. Andrew stepped up to the microphone and said "Dziekuje" (Thank You), much to the delight of the audience. Not to be outdone, Cory uttered the Polish greeting "Dzien Dobry" (Hello/Good Day).

Camerata opened the second half of the performance with some acapella selections including "Danny Boy", and then the rest of the Glee Club joined them to finish their second set. Before the Glee Club's last number, the directors of both choirs were called to the stage and given a gift of flowers. Dr. Barrett also received a beautiful framed print of the city.

Following the concert, the men of the Glee Club and the members of the women's choir attended a short reception hosted by the Dom Kultury. A young male Polish student spoke with Glee Club member Johnny Jacobsen and said, "Maybe in 100 years I will be as good as you!" One member of the women's choir said, "It was such a relief to hear men's voices, we didn't want you to stop singing!" An alumnus stated that this was one of the best audiences he had ever witnessed in Europe. The men of the Glee Club wish to thank the people of Lodz and sincerely hope that the Glee Club can return to their city in the future.

<< Back to News Listing