Hi everyone! My name is Josh Vo and I am a freshman in Glee Club! This fall tour was such an incredible experience and I am so grateful to have taken a part in it. While I could talk all day about everything we did, I thought I’d narrow it down to just a few highlights that really made me smile.
First off, going on tour gave me the opportunity to travel! Coming from Wichita, KS, I had never gotten to experience what the East Coast is like, so I was so excited to see all of the wonderful tourist-y spots. I got to see in person the Statue of Liberty, the Washington Monument, the Capitol Building, the Museum of Natural History, and the 9/11 Memorial in Staten Island where we offered up our voices and prayers to the souls lost on that tragic day. I think I can speak for all of us when I say it was one of the most beautiful moments we were able to experience on tour.
While getting to travel was so much fun, what was really incredible was getting to touch the hearts of so many through our music. As we continued to sing for others, what became abundantly clear was the fact that this music really means a lot to so many people. A lot of these songs are filled with feelings of nostalgia, grief, love, longing, and comfort. There was one experience in particular that really sticks out to me. Our first stop was at Shamrock Jack’s in Rochester, NY where we went to give them a mini-concert in gratitude for providing dinner for us that night. As we closed our set with beloved songs such as “Parting Glass” and “Danny Boy”, a woman standing in the front had tears in her eyes. And as I saw her cry with her family comforting her and holding hands, I started to get emotional as well. The music became more than just notes on a page- it provided a spiritual connection and one that I will never forget.
Going on tour not only allowed us to connect with our audiences, but also allowed us to connect with each other. As a freshman in college, it has been very hard to adjust to a new life. I’ve struggled with a lot of social anxiety and sometimes it’s very easy to feel alone. However, on this tour, I really got to know a lot of people. Spending 36 hours on a bus together, getting lost on the subway, connecting with our audiences, staying up late to talk about life, joining in song at random moments throughout the day–these moments not only made me feel a sense of true belonging, but also reminded me that when life throws a curveball my way, I will always have a good group of brothers who will be there for me. By the end of the week, I knew that there was definitely a reason I was given this opportunity to be in Glee Club and I can’t wait to see what the next four years have in store for me. So, thank you Fall Tour 2021. And thank you to everyone who made it special.
Josh Vo is a freshman from Wichita, Kansas.