Flashback: 2007 European Vacation

I’ve noted most of the cool things I’ve gotten to do in the past three-plus years here, but I’ve rarely mentioned some of the more awesome things I got to do while I was in high school. Four years ago I was a fresh high school graduate, getting ready to start a new venture at UC.

But first, a two-week journey to Europe awaited me.

While I was at Elder High School the best thing I feel I was ever a part of was the Elder Glee Club, headed by the “West Side’s Musical Maestro,” Dave Allen (Read more about DA here: http://adamniemeyer.blogspot.com/2010/12/dave-allen-west-sides-musical-maestro.html)

Every other summer the Elder Glee Club departs for a two-week journey to a faraway land. Currently, the Elder contingent (made up of Glee Club members, parents, Elder faculty and friends of the Glee Club) is winding their way through Germany.

Four years ago I was lucky enough to be on a trip that took myself, my friends and classmates, amongst others, through four countries in Europe: Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Me (far right in red) hanging out with some of my friends in Europe at a big dinner we had

It was astounding to say the least. We visited so many landmarks that I’m not even sure what we saw. I just snapped photos, lots of photos.

A shot overlooking Budapest, Hungary. I believe the big building in the middle of the photo is either their White House or their Congress/Parliament building, if my memory has not failed me!

And we sang, quite a bit, naturally. We were, after all, a group of singing high schoolers. We sang outside, at churches we visited, and anywhere else we could gather to sing for folks. Although the native people may not have understood our songs, they clapped and cheered for us.

The entire Elder Glee Club contingent before we sang our final outdoor concert in a park next to our hotel (Photo by Dr. John Hageman-provided)

It was impressive to say the least.

After mass we sang a short concert in the church for everyone gathered (provided photo from Dr. John Hageman)

And since we are from a Catholic school, we celebrated mass more than a few times, my favorite being the mass we had the day before we left Europe, at a Jesuit church in Austria with composer and songwriter Dr. James E. Moore.

Dr. Moore (middle) with Fr. Phil Seher (right, in yellow) after a mass we celebrated in Austria

This wasn’t the first time I had a chance to sing with Dr. Moore though. Myself and a few other guys I had graduated from St. William with had sung in the St. William Children’s Choir with Dr. Moore four years earlier. His songs are pretty fun to sing in a liturgical setting, and we enjoyed singing his songs while he played the piano for us.

Ask anyone who was over there with me, it was a darn fun time. We enjoyed it, and I may never get another opportunity to visit some of the places I went on that trip. And while I get to do some pretty darn fun stuff now, there may never be another chance like that to do something so cool in my lifetime. I’m glad I had the chance when I did.