Kellogg Community College choir member Kathy Bair, 71, of Allen, has been a KCC choir member for the past six years.
Bair is traveling with nearly 40 other KCC choir members in June to embark on a nine-day international concert tour of the Baltics, where they’ll perform in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
“I love singing with the KCC choir,” Bair said. “It has given me so much more than I expected when I joined. It has given me much more confidence when singing in my church choir and it has increased my vocal range. I have embraced the challenges of some difficult pieces of music and feel a great sense of accomplishment when we perform.”
Bair said she’s looking forward to the tour of the Baltics — which will be her first time touring with the choir — and she’s excited to see that part of the world and interact with their choirs.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for students to see a different part of the world and
have opportunities to meet people from different countries and experience new cultures,” she said. “This experience enriches their understanding of the world and can lead to better view their role in their lives.”
Community members can get a preview of the full program KCC choir members will perform in the Baltics this weekend at the College’s “Singing in the Spring: KCC Choral Union Tour to the Baltics” concert beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 27, at First Presbyterian Church, 111 Capital Ave. NE in Battle Creek.
The event is free and open to the public, though a freewill offering will be collected to support the tour and future music initiatives at the College. Individuals can also donate to support the tour online.
Every contribution — no matter how small — goes directly to supporting choir members like Bair so they can experience performing abroad this summer.
For more information about the upcoming tour, concert or other music programming or initiatives at KCC, contact KCC Music Area Coordinator and Vocal Arts Director Dr. Gerald Case-Blanchard at case-blanchardg@kellogg.edu or 269-565-7859.