SHERMAN, TEXAS -- Members of the Austin College A Cappella Choir left Texas
May 20 for a 16-day concert tour in Australia. Though the choir tours internationally every four years, this tour is the choir’s first outside of Europe. The students will present eight performances in eastern Australia, visiting Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Beechworth, Cairns, and Brisbane. The group returns June 6.
The schedule includes performances at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Syndey, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Canberra, Christ Church Beechworth, St. Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne, the Cairns Choral Society Hall, and Clayfield College in Brisbane.
In addition to rehearsing and performing, students also will have opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of Australia. Activities such as a tour of the Sydney Opera House and a cruise of Sydney Harbour, a tour of the Canberra Parliament House, travel through Australian bush country, and beach activities at Low Isles are planned for the group, and students will have free time to explore on their own.
Student participants, listed by hometown along with the area high school from which they graduated and their parents’ names, follow:
Amarillo TX
Steven Lee, Tascosa High School, son of Gretchen and Tony Schartz and grandson of Betty Deckard;
Athens TX
Caroline Carlson, Athens Senior High School, daughter of Mark and Sara Carlson;
Austin TX
James Rider, Saint Stephens Episcopal School, son of Brian and Patsy Rider;
Leah Stoddard, Albert S. Johnston High School, daughter of Mark and Laurel Stoddard;
Carrollton TX
John Deichler, Newman Smith High School, son of Alan and Mary Jo Deichler;
Aaron Kirby, Newman Smith High School, son of Myron and Linda Kirby;
David Toung, Newman Smith High School, son of Tony and Ai Toung;
Cedar Hill TX
Brandi Travis, Cedar Hill High School, daughter of Ann Travis;
Corpus Christi TX
Mary Blacklock, Tuloso-Midway High School, daughter of John and Helen Blacklock;
Dallas TX
Sheila Dyer, Trinity Christian Academy, daughter of Nalini Dyer; Jennifer Hilton, Lake Highlands High School, daughter of Keith and Christine Miller, and Alan Hilton; Anne Jernberg, Lake Highlands High School, daughter of Bill and Janice Jernberg;
Danville CA
Lindsey Alden, San Ramon Valley High School, daughter of Bill and Cindy Alden;
Denison TX
Julia Anderson, The Hockaday School, daughter of Steve Anderson of Denison and Linda Anderson of Las Vegas, NM;
Cassie Lovell, Denison Senior High School, daughter of Cliff and Sharon Lovell;
Duncanville TX
Shalini Varghese, Duncanville High School, daughter of Thomas and Nancy Varghese;
Fort Worth TX
Jennifer Jordan, Northside High School, daughter of Wayne and Nancy Jordan;
Carolyn Wilson, Fort Worth Country Day School, daughter of David and Rita Wilson,
Garland TX
Aaron Gallagher, Bishop Lynch High School, son of John and Beverly Gallagher;
Sarah Russell, Garland High School, daughter of Gary and Catherine Russell;
Granbury TX
Jacqueline Calhoun, Granbury Senior High School, daughter of Beth Calhoun;
Katie Deming, Granbury Senior High School, daughter of Rodney and Anita Deming;
Houston TX
Jon Peterson, The Kinkaid School, son of Laura Edwards of Houston and Jon Peterson of Montgomery; Sara Pollard, Jersey Village High School, daughter of Jay Pollard of Houston and Kathleen Martin of New Braunfels; Sybil Seungdamrong, Westfield High School, daughter of Minviluz Seungdamrong;
Irving TX
Ciarra Chavarria, MacArthur High School, daughter of C.R. and Sandra Chavarria;
Lubbock TX
Joshua Parker, Coronado High School, son of Wayne and Paula Parker;
Lucas TX
Carla Bailey, Allen High School, daughter of Kerry and Rita Bailey;
Mansfield TX
Daniel Pucul, Mansfield High School, son of Ronald and Judith Pucul;
Mesquite TX
Allison Schmitz, North Mesquite High School, daughter of Ray and Mary Schmitz; Gregory Wohead, Poteet High School, son of Jeff and Pam Wohead;
Metairie LA
Jennifer Lenfant, Mount Carmel Academy and NOCCA of New Orleans, La., daughter of Warren and Lori Lenfant;
Midland TX
Brian Dees, Midland High School, son of Tracey Dees of Midland and Paul Dees of Dallas;
New Braunfels TX
Sara Pollard, Jersey Village High School, daughter of Kathleen Martin of New Braunfels and Jay Pollard of Houston;
Parker TX
Donnice King, Plano East Senior High School, daughter of John and Jeriann King;
Plano TX
Kara Janasak, Plano Senior High School, daughter of Keith and Debbie Janasak;
Jordan Michel, Plano East Senior High School, son of Donald and Debra Michel;
Velvet Jones, Plano East Senior High School, daughter of Terrace and Janice Jones;
Richardson TX
Kurt Spurrier, J. J. Pearce High School, son of Kevin and Linda Spurrier;
Woodway TX
Christopher Burgess, Midway High School, son of Norm and Carol Burgess.
Students pay the majority of the travel costs individually, though a portion of costs is underwritten by the Austin College Bruce Lunkley Choir Fund, established by choir alumni to assist with tour costs.
Under the direction of Wayne Crannell, associate professor of music, the Austin College A Cappella Choir performs a wide range of music from all eras. The choir, formed in 1942, has built a distinguished tradition of choral music by touring throughout Texas, the United States, and the world. Unique among ensembles of this caliber, the A Cappella Choir draws membership from the entire student body through audition, regardless of major.
