Northwestern choir plans May tour in Taiwan

The Northwestern College A cappella Choir is planning a concert tour and mission trip to Taiwan May 17 to 28. The tour will begin in the capital city of Taipei, proceed to Hualien on the eastern coast, and end in the southern city of Kaohsiung. The 46-member ensemble will perform at a university, public schools, concert halls and churches. Joint performances with Taiwanese choirs are also on the itinerary.

Tour repertoire will feature both American and Taiwanese compositions, including “The Apple of Daddy’s Eye,” a popular Taiwanese song about family love in the midst of political hardship and separation.

“The learning experience for our students is rich and enormous as we use music and our faith to build bridges with people of other languages and cultures,” says Dr. Thomas Holm, A cappella Choir director. “Music can transcend barriers that separate people, and I am excited to see how God will use our Northwestern students to accomplish his work in and through us!”

Holm has led Northwestern students on three overseas tours—one of which was a tour to Taiwan in 2016. He also spent a sabbatical year teaching courses and directing choral and instrumental ensembles at a university in Taiwan.

Each choir member is responsible for paying $1,200 out of pocket and raising an additional $760 through fundraising efforts. Donations to support the trip can be made here by clicking “Other” in the designation box and typing in “Choir Tour.” If COVID-19 travel restrictions prevent a tour to Taiwan, the A cappella Choir will travel to Denmark and Sweden.