“Opportunity Here Feels Limitless”

When it comes to music, Charles Kriech doesn’t limit himself to one instrument.

Since he first began taking music lessons as a kindergartener, he has spent a decade studying the piano while simultaneously dabbling in the cello, the saxophone, and the guitar, just to name a few. Yet none of those pursuits can compare to his favorite instrument of all: his voice.

For musicians with a knack for performance like Charles, there’s no better place to hone his craft than with the SDSU Concert Choir.

As a sophomore Jackrabbit, he’s already packed plenty of meaningful experiences into his time at State, competing in vocal competitions and joining the vocal scholars at the Cathedral of St. Joseph. He was among those selected to perform with an international opera troupe that presented Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme on campus in fall of 2023.

Charles is also one of over 60 Jackrabbits who’ve been offered the chance to travel to Norway and Sweden the end of December with the Concert Choir.

There, performers will sing in picturesque cathedrals, take in the local culture, visit fjords and the Oslo Opera House, and ring in the new year abroad. This priceless nine-day venture comes at a cost of $4,500 per student. With the SDSU Foundation’s goal of fundraising $3,000 per student, we can ensure that Charles, and other singers like him, can participate in an unforgettable adventure overseas.

While each of the voices that make up the Concert Choir have different stories, different interests, and different goals, they share one common trait with Charles: music can take them places.

Reflecting on his collegiate years so far, Charles is a firm believer that SDSU fuels opportunity in limitless supply – and, together, we can confirm that belief.

What inspired you to choose music education as your major?

"I’ve spent my entire life studying music, but it was actually my experience at the SD Senior Honor Choir (hosted at SDSU) that convinced me to commit to music as a career. The opportunity introduced me to the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center on campus, and I got to meet a lot of the faculty that I work with today. Honor Choir is really what convinced me to not only work toward being a career musician, but putting that work in here at SDSU."

With the upcoming trip to Norway and Sweden, your experience at SDSU has been impacted positively by donors. What would you say to the people who made/are making these experiences possible?

"This trip will be the first time that I travel outside the country – I’ve stayed pretty close to the Midwest for most of my life, so touring in Europe is a huge step for me. I have an infinite gratitude to all of the donors and people who have made this possible – as well as the other tours, the concerts, the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center, the Woodbine Concert Series, etc. It’s thanks to them that we have such a significant fine arts program."

What makes these upcoming performances different than those you’ve already done with the Concert Choir?

"Touring gives us the opportunity to bring our wonderful art to new people and places, in locations far different from the concert halls we've been in. We've also really dived into the Norwegian and Swedish languages, which almost none of us have done before. It's a completely new experience."

What is a key life lesson that being in the choir has taught you?

"I was always a pretty loud and boisterous kid throughout my life, and I would always sing really loud and proud on stage and in rehearsal. But choir really requires you to listen. To listen is to hear the different talents and strengths of every individual, and to value all of them the same as you value yourself. I certainly still like to sing loud and proud, but I always try to temper it by listening, and sometimes it’s even more enjoyable to just listen."

Describe one of your favorite memories in the SDSU Choir.

"At the beginning of every year, Dr. Diddle holds a retreat where we spend the time not only drilling our repertoire for the year, but also bonding – sharing home cooked meals and staying up late around bonfires. My first year, I came into the ensemble unsure of my place, but, after the retreat, I already felt like I was a part of something bigger."

What are your plans for after graduation?

"My goal is to become a professional musician, ideally singing opera and classical music. This means that immediately after finishing my undergraduate, I’ll be pursuing a graduate degree in vocal performance."

What do you love about SDSU?

"SDSU offers so many opportunities that I can’t get elsewhere. An international touring opera company performed here, and we got to be a part of their opera chorus. We’ve had a number of renowned artists and musicians come to SDSU, not only to perform, but also to educate and talk to the students and faculty. The wealth of opportunity here feels limitless."

It’s been said that music speaks for that which cannot be put into words.

Similarly, it can be hard to put into words just what the upcoming trip means to the Concert Choir and to students like Charles. The nine-day sojourn amounts to far more than a stellar lineup of songs, a whirlwind of sightseeing, or the chance to share music with international audiences. The venture abroad represents yet another way that the Concert Choir can bond as one indivisible group.

“Above all else, the choir feels like its own family,” explains Charles. “We have in-jokes, we hold each other accountable, we struggle and succeed together.”

Though the SDSU Concert Choir has an impressive record of international jaunts (like Great Britain, Spain, and Italy, to name just a couple of their previous destinations), the opportunity to travel abroad doesn’t always knock twice for the typical Jackrabbit. The yellow and blue community has the chance to send students on the trip of a lifetime – and the memories made, the experiences gained, and the enchanting melodies sung will be nothing short of remarkable.