By Emmani Henry
The Florida A&M University Concert Choir is in one of Europe’s cultural capitals for a series of performances.
Led by Director Mark Butler, Ph.D., the FAMU Concert Choir will be part of the Festival Tour of Vienna Sings 2023. The group boarded a plane for Germany Wednesday, November 29 and will return next week. The 41-student choir is scheduled to perform at the Historic Melk Abby Church, the Schonbrum Palace, the Vienna City Festival and the Vienna Senior Living Facility.
The FAMU Concert Choir performs at Raymond James Stadium for a Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL game in October 2023. (Credit: FAMU Concert Choir)
“I think it’s a wonderful and well-deserved opportunity,” said Butler, director of choral activities and associate professor of music in the College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities (CSSAH). “This is one of the finest music ensembles on campus, with hard working young people who sing extremely fine repertoire of choral literature that branches so many genres and styles.”
Students are accompanied by Butler, CSSAH Dean Valencia Matthews, Ph.D., Concert Choir Accompanist Professor Joanna Sobkowska, Ph.D., other faculty, and staff.
For some students, the international tour helps to make up for a Carnegie Hall New York debut performance that was canceled due to the pandemic.
Senior vocal performance student Alex Williams was among the students who were unable to go to Carnegie Hall.
“And now that we actually get to go to another country and share the gift that is the Concert Choir, is absolutely amazing,” said Williams, who is president of FAMU Concert Choir.
