Washington Adventist University Students to Perform at GC Session

WAU Music Students to Cap Australia Tour with Performances at the General Conference (GC) Session, July 2-11

Story by Donna Bigler

Washington Adventist University’s Music Department is sponsoring Australia Tour 2015, featuring performances by students in the university’s New England Youth Ensemble and Columbia Collegiate Chorale. The students departed the Takoma Park, Md., campus June 15 for a first stop in Melbourne, Australia, where they held a morning concert today at Edinburgh College, and will perform again on June 20 in an evening concert at Wantirna church.

Student musicians performing on the tour include: Atecia Edwards and Courtney Tooley on flute; Vanessa Baioni, Geofery Cua, Alexander Marte, Jonathan Emerson, Johanna Emerson and Emilie Flores on violin; Richy Flores, Alexandra Coleman and Christy Kawar on cello; Brianna Clemons and Kerstin Smith on viola; Andre Darvasan-Stanciu on piano; and Valerie Neyra on clarinet.

Performances will continue through June on the following dates and locations: June 21 in Canberra at South Canberra church; June 22 in Burradoo, New South Wales at the Anglican Church of St. Simon and St. Jude’s; June 23 in Sydney at Wahroonga church; June 24 in Avondale at Avondale College church; June 25 in Port Macquarie at the Port Macquarie church; on June 26 in Murwillumbah at the Murwillumbah church. The final performances on Australia Tour 2015 will be June 27 in Brisbane, Queensland with a morning performance at Springwood church and an evening performance at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral.

Sightseeing and rehearsals are scheduled throughout the tour, along with a farewell dinner in Sydney on June 30. The group will depart Australia on July 1 for San Antonio, Texas in time to perform at the 60th General Conference session, held July 2-11. Student bassoonist Sonali Songh will join the musical group for performances in San Antonio. Check the broadcast schedule and watch the General Conference Session live.

The Washington Adventist University students will perform on Thursday, July 2, from 5 to 6 p.m., and on July 4 at 11 a.m. (Watch the performance here.)

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