Portland State Magazine Fall 2017

8 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE FALL 2017 Fanfare THE PORTLAND STATE CHAMBER CHOIR , the first American choir ever to compete in the Bali International Choral Festival, won the Grand Prix at the July 14-20 festival, which included more than 100 choirs. “This trip was a profound experience for our students,” says Ethan Sperry, the Barre Stoll Director of Choral Activities in the PSU School of Music. “Asian choirs have a distinctive approach to music, and our ears were opened to a new palette of sounds. I hope that we offered a similar experience for the people hearing an American choir for the first time.” As they enjoyed the island’s scenic attractions, choir members also sang at a charity concert to raise money for homeless youth. Sperry is pictured above holding the trophy. Big win in Bali