“Shake down the thunder from the
skies,” a phrase from The Notre
Dame Victory March, was sung
forcefully by the University of Notre Dame
Glee Club in concert on May 26 at San Francisco
Church in La Antigua Guatemala. After
a typical break of electricity darkened and then
dramatically relit the chorus, director Daniel
C. Stowe grinned, “I think God liked it.”
The a cappella concert, a mix of sacred
classical works and popular and folk music
of Latin America, the U.S., Africa and Europe,
enjoyed the remarkable acoustics of
the church. The hands-down favorite of the
crowd-pleaser concert was Luna de Xelajú,
which not surprisingly received rousing applause.
The chorus, in white satin vests and
bow ties, trimmed their black tail jackets
with Guatemala weavings.
The concert in La Antigua followed one in
Guatemala City and two in Mexico. Then it
was on to Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.
The tour was funded by the Development Of-
fice of the university, the local alumni clubs,
CD sales and the students themselves.
Members of the Glee Club had spent the
day in La Antigua. John Paul Andree, a junior
from Detroit, MI, was enthusiastic. “The
history of this place is so impressive, and the
people are phenomenal.” What did he like
best? “Central Park! We sat there for an hour
and a half watching the mix of cultures. It
was almost surreal—and the architecture
is amazing. We heard this was a UNESCO
World Heritage Site but had no idea what
that meant.” Colin Pogge from Des Moines,
IA, added, “We don’t have this in the U.S.
There we keep tearing down and building
again.” Colin graduated this year and will
begin teaching middle school in Houston,
TX under a program of Americorps aimed at
“developing leadership to make a difference
for the future,” said Pogge.
Father Tom Eckert, who accompanied
the group, studied in Mexico and worked in
Peru and Chile. Speaking to the audience, he
encouraged young people to “study hard and
pray a lot. Then, with good grades, fill out
an application to study at the University of
Notre Dame in Indiana.” Eckert said the university
is interested in increasing the number
of Latinoamericans in its student population,
which currently is 7,500. Antonio Minondo,
president of the 30-member Notre Dame
Alumni Club in Guatemala, estimated that
six Guatemalan students graduated in 2004
and nine this year.
The club hosted the visit to Guatemala.
Philip (class of ‘89) and Christina Wilson, La
Antigua residents, were honored with a presentation
from the Glee Club, in appreciation for
their “incredible hospitality.” The Glee Club
goes on tour every two years and has sung in
Canada, Europe, Israel and Asia.
