Eugene choir will visit Siberia
By Knstm Unwin
Emerald Contributor
When James Miller, director of the Eugene
Chamber Singers, says his group wanted to <lo
something "a little out of the ordinary” this sum
mer, it's a bit of an understatement
The singers are going on tour to a place some
what off the beaten path. Siberia
The trip is in conjunction with the Sister (titv
Program, an international organization that pro
motes cultural exchange between countries
Miller played a large role in developing the ex
change between the Eugene Chamber Singers and
the Irkutsk Chamber Choir A few years ago,
when he found out that a few delegates from the
mayor's office in Irkutsk would be arriving in Eu
gene, he decided to approach them with the idea
They liked it
The arrival of the Irkutsk Chamber Choir dur
ing the summe of 1991 marked the beginning of
the exchange During its stay, the c hoir held .1 se
ries of concerts in Eugene and loured Oregon
"It was a marvelous experience for them and
for us," Miller said
Eugene Chamber Singers member Tony Her
nandez, a 1989 graduate of the University, said he
remembers how two of the Russian women made
him realize how similar all human beings are
"They both had families and children back
home They were missing them,” Hernandez said
"We kind of let them borrow our kids."
Hernandez, said he also remembers their reat
tion to Americans' higher standard of living
"We gave them some spending money." Her
nandez said "They found such joy in being able
to buy things for their children that ntir 1 hildren
always have "
Miller has also noticed the effec ts of the Hus
sian economy upon the poor availability of choral
music.
“They sing Russian music, Russian music, Rus
sian music, and two Negro spirituals,” he said
When the Eugene Chamber Singers go to Ir
kutsk for two weeks this August, Hernandez said
he will worry about the possible effects of the
choir’s visit on the Russian hosts
“1 think the hardest thing will be the economic
hardships imposed on them,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez said he is afraid that after the Eu
gene choir leaves, their Russian hosts will be in
debt from simply providing food for the choir,
which has about 25 members He s.ud the Eugene
The curiosity factor is half the
excitement The unifying
quality is the music/
Tony Hernandez,
Eugene Chamber Singers member
choir wanted to send the hosts some money
ahead of time, hut were told not to because of
mall tampering and theft
liven larger problems last year fori ed them lo
postpone the trip altogether The choir members
were originally invited to go to Irkutsk this past
summer, hut the Irkutsk government urged them
not to
"That was when things were still pretty < r.i/v
politically," Hernandez said
Instead. Miller said, "we brought the dim tor of
the Irkutsk Chamber Choir here to attend the
Bach Festival."
Now. however, the Irkutsk choir is again eager
ly awaiting the Eugene choir's arrival
So, the Eugene Chamber Singers are continuing
to raise money for the trip, whir h will cost about
S50.000 for airfare and passport fees alone
Miller sanl the choir is receiving some help
from local sources
One of these is I’hi Beta, a fraternity for stu
dents in the .iris Two of the fraternity's members,
vocalists Luural Workman and Mary |o Simonds
Hunteger. put oil a benefit r oncer!
Although the choir only has about Sti..'>()() saved
so far. its members are determined not to let It
minces stand in their way Miller said most of the
members are even willing to pay their own way
Hernandez, a substitute teacher in music, has
fieen accepting jolts as far away as Eagle Point,
near Medford, to try to earn enough money for his
share of the cost
Hernandez has never been to Russia, but he
looks forward to going
"The curiosity factor is half the excitement." he
said "The unifying quality is the rnusit
Miller’s main goal for the trip is a true ex
change in culture He compares the exchange pro
gram to a giant puz-z.le, with the Irkutsk ( lioir'x
visit composing only half of it
"We need to complete it by going there, he
said
Forensics finishes
year 18th in nation
By Tiffany Woods
tmeraid Contribute*
Arguing may not seem to (mi a great way to spend one s
spare lime, but some students dedicate themselves to it two
or three times a week
And they're good at it
With first- and secondpri/.c wins under their belt, the Uni
versity team, ranked 18th out of 24S national teams, is now
preparing for a new debate topic and some important tourna
ments
The team finished this term by grabbing debate sweep
stakes ul the l.infield Carl lege tournament last month
Trophy winners Lewi! Shodd and Shawn Mac Donald ar
gued this year's debate resolution that the welfare system ex
acerbates the problems of the urban poor
The two argued that the welfare system provides housing
with lead paint, therefore indirectly exposing children to
high levels of lead poisoning *
They described the resolution as "an important, timely top
ic to the United States" because it addresses domestic needs
Steve Stolp, assistant director of forensics, said he was
pleasantly surprised by the results
Kill Shedd. however, expected lire good showing
"I thought we were as prepared as any loam in the North
west." he said "The coa< hlng at Oregon is lops, which is
why we can compete with teams that have more money "
The team competes in the Cross Examination Debate Asso
elation (CEDAJ. the largest debate association in the nation
Cross-examination is a debate style involving two two per
son learns that argue affirmative and negative sides of a u-s,.
lulion
Iiul now the team is looking forward to next year's topl<
which will he announced Thursday
Hie debaters will once again spend countless hours re
searching and developing their cases in preparation for the
uparming Pacific Lulhonin University Tournament in Taco
ma |an. 7-to. s
'"This is un important tournament trocause the first tourna
ment of winter quarter sets the tone for the year." said David
Frank, director of forensics
Other significant tournaments include the University of
Utah, the University of Kansas and Die national tournament
at Townson State in Maryland
Looking ahead to the national championships, Frank pre
du ted that the delroterteam will finish In the top 20 schools
"We are a mill h younger program this year," he said, "bill
I think we will do relatively well
BA'CK TO SCHOOL
SAVINGS
Frarno plus loam core tuton
Single‘159 Double *189
Queen *209
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342-3358
Must be 21 or Over
Wednesday tv. •> $3
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Music starts at 8pm Sundays
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.
Booksigning
with Robin Cody
Saturday, 1:30-2:30
*C
Portland free-lance writer, Robin Cody will be signing
copies of his new novel Ricochet River upstairs in our
General Books area. Cody is the 1986 winner of the
Western Writers of America's Silver Spur Award for
short nonfiction.
i
13th & Kincaid • M-Sat • 346-4331