Variations Choral Ensemble to Poland

It’s back to the salt mine for 36 Pellissippi State students beginning March 1!

The Wieliczka Salt Mine has been worked for 900 years, and Variations Choral Ensemble will perform there and at other venues in Poland.

In the meantime, the choir is working on “prosze” and “dziekuje.” Those may be the most important words they learn before they leave for their March 1-8 singing tour of the East European country.

The group, under the direction of Bill Brewer, an associate professor of Music, will travel to Poland March 1-8, and will certainly need to know how to say “please” and “thank you.”

The students are busy learning essential Polish phrases from Pellissippi State archery teacher Elzbieta Tworek, a native of Poland and a former member of the Polish national archery team. Tworek will accompany the group, serving as translator.

Tworek says she is excited about the opportunity to assist students while visiting her native country.

“I’m looking forward to showing to the group places in the capital of Poland, Warsaw, and then in Krakow, that have meaning for world culture,” she said.

“I hope it will be a very memorable trip to Eastern Europe, and that our students as ambassadors of American youth and culture will bring in many positive experiences and take back lots of unforgettable memories.”

While in Poland, the students, along with eight chaperones, will perform in some unique venues: a palace, a concentration camp and a salt mine. Cities on the itinerary include Warsaw, Lublin, Krakow and Chelm (Knoxville’s sister city).

The students will kick off their tour at Wilanow Palace in Warsaw on March 3. Built for the Polish king John III Sobieski in the last quarter of the 17th century, it was later enlarged by other owners. Brewer says the palace is patterned after the Palace of Versailles in France.

On March 4, Variations will present two one-hour performances, at Catholic University in Lublin and in Chelm.

St. Mary’s Church in Krakow is the next stop, on March 5. There, the group will get to see an elaborate altar from the Middle Ages, Brewer says.

March 6 is sure to be a day the students will never forget. They will sing a cappella outdoors on the grounds of Auschwitz concentration camp. “Jesus, I Adore Thee,” a Benedictine chant from the 13th century and “Earth Song” by Frank Ticheli are the selections.

The lyrics of “Earth Song” express the power of music to help heal: “… O war and power, You blast and blur. The torn heart cries out in pain. But music and singing have been my refuge….”

An underground chapel in the Wieliczka salt mine will be the site of the choir’s 30-minute a cappella performance on March 7. The tour culminates March 8 with an hourlong concert at the Young Musician’s Festival at the Krakow Music Academy, where Variations was invited to give perform for the school’s students and their parents.