Vox Profundi, Goshen College’s low voice choir, wrapped up their weeklong tour over spring break with a home concert in Sauder Concert Hall on March 2. They began with their first performance in Sarasota, Fl.  after a 23 hour bus ride, and worked their way up the coast — performing in Georgia and Ohio before returning to Indiana.

The theme for this year’s tour was “Let All the World in Every Corner Sing,” which was also the title of their opening piece by

Ralph Vaughn Williams. Additionally, the program included two spirituals, a traditional Irish piece, a song in Spanish, a piece in Latin, a song in German, a few songs in English and the GC Alma Mater for a grand total of thirteen performance pieces to be sung at each location.

The program showcased the members of the choir in instrumental, solo and small group roles alongside the group as a whole.

Many members of Vox emphasized the relationships that formed while jam-packed on a bus together for a full week. Keegan Wyse, first-year music major, said, “It was a bonding experience. It was my second family, they’re all my brothers, every single one of those people on tour.”

“It is amazing the things you learn and the way you learn to handle relationships on this tour. The best way I can describe it is we got to sing with our family, we got to sing with our brothers,” Wyse said.

Spending time with each other in different locations across the south seemed to be a key highlight. Nat Pineda Vasquez, sophomore music major, wrote an original rap section for the song “Glory” by John Stephens, Lonnie Lynn, Che Smith and Eugene Rogers.

Spending time together was a highlight of the trip.

“For me personally, the tour was a very uniting and fun experience.”  Pineda Vasquez said. “I feel like I was able to connect to all of the guys more and get to know my classmates for more than just singers.” Some of the higlights Pineda Vasquez mentioned were playing volleyball on the beach in Florida and going to a Buc-ee’s for the first time.

When asked about the music itself, many said they really enjoyed singing the song “Glory,” because they felt both the choir and the many audiences had a real and deep emotional and spiritual connection to the piece, and the song was energizing after a long day or long set.

In addition to Pineda Vasquez’s original rap piece, “Glory” featured Phil Witmer-Rich as a soloist, Dontaye Albert on the drums and Henry Meyer on bass.

Wyse said, “‘Glory’ was my favorite because it had the strongest meaning for everyone on tour. We saved it to the end because it is just such a special and meaningful song. It got us a standing ovation at most places because it is just such a powerful and moving piece.

“Even when we were tired, the message and meaning of this song kept us going and reminded us of the theme and purpose of this tour.”

Vox sung 13 pieces in each concert.