Singing His Way Through Eastern Europe

Journal Entry #1: "Preparation and Procrastination"

May 27, 2008

Senior Joe Ward is a member of the university's Chamber Choir, which currently is on a concert tour through Eastern Europe with the Chamber Orchestra. In addition to performing in several world-renown concert halls and festivals, the 64 students and five faculty members are taking in the historic and cultural sights of Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic. Over the tour's two weeks, Ward will be sharing his experiences.

Evening of May 22

By Joe Ward

Like a Thrill Ride

As I write this, I am postponing the inevitable reality that I still need to pack my bags for a two-week trip to Eastern Europe. My mind is a jumble of so many thoughts and feelings: anxiousness, excitement, nervousness and even relief (now that finals are FINALLY over … pun intended?). I feel like I am on a roller coaster that is slowly "clicking" and "clacking" its way to the ride's initial summit. Any moment now the plunge is going to begin. In less than 24 hours, I'm going to be on my way to Eastern Europe.

My given name is Joseph, but everyone calls me Joe ("Joseph" being reserved for when my parents are mad at me for doing something that I probably shouldn't have done in the first place). I grew up in the wonderful town of Santa Maria, Calif., where the strawberries are spectacular and tri-tip barbecues can be found on almost every other corner up and down Broadway on any given weekend of the year.

I grew up loving to learn about anything and everything that I could find, and I would delight when my grandparents would come home from long vacations and show me pictures from their travels abroad. I vividly remember watching my grandfather push red pins into a giant world map in his office, one for each country or state that he and my grandmother had been to. Over time, I watched this map become filled with a sea of red pins and I always dreamed about seeing those places for myself. As a young man of 22 years, I have been privileged to visit the western and southern regions of Europe, as well as portions of Australia. Eventually, I hope to be able to fill my own map with red pins.

Singing … the Beginning

In high school, I joined the campus' beginner choir in order to fill a space in my schedule, and I began to develop a passion for music. I quickly found out that I loved to sing, and I became involved in multiple choirs, school musicals and even the high school's jazz band.

Music became one of the biggest parts of my life, and I graduated in 2004 with the idea that I would become a music teacher. This desire, along with Cal State Fullerton's exceptional and renowned choral music program instilled in me the desire to study music. Thus began my stay within CSUF's choral music program.

I have been a member of the University Singers now for four years and the Chamber Choir for three. I am currently a senior going into my final semester of coursework as an undergraduate. My major is child and adolescent development, and my minors are natural sciences and music. My goal is to become a fifth-grade teacher.

A Bon Voyage Concert

Because I really do not think that I can talk about myself anymore, I'll tell you about last night: our Bon Voyage Concert in Meng Concert Hall.

This concert was essentially the premiere of our program for the tour. I'm very proud to say that the concert was one of the most special performances that I've ever been a part of. The orchestra played beautifully and the choir sang with fervor. Professor Kimo Furumoto and Dr. Robert Istad did not just conduct us, but they led us to make music with them.

Coming out of that concert, I am even more excited about the opportunities that this trip to Europe has to offer. To think that three days from now, I will have performed in the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, which causes me to grin from ear to ear. More than that, I can't help but smile at the fact that CSUF is going to be represented by such a wonderful group of musicians over the next two weeks. Additionally, I am very excited to simply take in my surroundings while I am in Eastern Europe.

Closer to the "Summit"

To return to my initial analogy, I'm at the point on that aforementioned roller coaster where I begin to get a little bit nervous about what the ride is going to be like. Am I ready for it? To apply the analogy to my trip, the obvious answer is a big "NO" because I still haven't packed my bags yet. My empty suitcase has been sitting on my bed all day today, and I suppose that I can't put it off any longer. I look forward to sharing stories and experiences as the choir and orchestra travel throughout the next two weeks.