Making Music

Twenty-four Luther students made musical connections this January as they traveled through Namibia and South Africa sharing and receiving the gift of music. Music 239, led by instructors Tim Peter, professor of music, and Greg Peterson, assistant professor of music, introduced students to new experiences and cultures through song.

“It was 22 days of intercultural exchange, and our medium was music,” Peter said.

The class began Jan. 3 with three days of rehearsal on campus, where the 24 students sang together for the first time. After rehearsal time, the group traveled and arrived in Namibia, staying there until Jan. 21 when they flew to Cape Town, South Africa. The group flew back to Chicago Jan. 26 and completed their experience with a homecoming concert in the Noble Recital Hall Feb. 5.

A majority of the trip was spent singing in choir exchanges at churches, community townships, hospitals and schools. Each event consisted of two or more choirs performing for one another, singing songs both separately and then together.

The application process was similar to other J-Term trips, but also included a vocal audition.

“We were looking for open minds, open hearts, an interest in something very different than they were used to and, for their benefit, we wanted all the students to feel comfortable with their voice and their singing,” Peter said.

Throughout the trip, culture and music were intertwined.

“We did a lot of the cultural awareness activities in both Namibia and South Africa that would be related to political environment, post-apartheid living and the role of music during the apartheid movement,” Peter said. “Those combinations of activities continually fed our experiences through music.”

Students also participated in one home stay while in Namibia.

The students found that other students and people they encountered on the trip had the most impact on their experiences. Among student participants were Emily Wittig (‘10) and Culynn Curtis (‘10). Both talked about connections the group made while on the trip.

“Music has the power to connect people, both as a group of Luther students, and with people who don’t speak the same language,” Curtis said.

Wittig had similar experiences and found the trip to be extremely meaningful.

“I’ve never met such warm, nice and welcoming people,” Wittig said.

Just as the students found amazement in the people of Namibia and South Africa, the instructors were pleased with the group of students they chose for the course.

“We were so happy with the engagement, the involvement, the way this group of students took ownership of this course,” Peterson said.

A little over a week after their arrival back to the U.S., the group was able to share a little part of their trip with Luther through their homecoming concert.

“It was interesting for me to go on that trip, have my life changed and then to bring that back here,” Curtis said. “For people to come up to me after the concert and say, ‘My life was changed by what you did here tonight’...that’s really powerful, and yet, they don’t even know the first of it.”

Peter hopes this popular trip will be offered again for a third time, but when that will happen is unknown. Regardless, this year’s Music 239 inspired many, and is an experience that will not be forgotten.