It was only 20 minutes into their first rehearsal the morning of Nov. 11 at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Germany --- where Johann Sebastian Bach is buried and composed his finest sacred choral works --- when the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Choir members began to fully comprehend the significance of the moment.

"Many of us had a 'look where we are!' moment of realization," said choir member Peggy Cribbs. "We were moved to be singing Bach's music in Bach's church."

The L.A. Cathedral Choir was one of four select choirs invited to participate in last month's inaugural Soli Deo Gloria Bach Choral Festival, along with ensembles from England, Japan, and Korea. This was the first tour for the ethnically and age diverse Cathedral Choir, which sings Sundays at 10 a.m.

Under Cathedral music director Frank Brownstead, they prepared months to master Bach's complex music in German. Choir sections held break-out practices. Choir members practiced during summer recess and rehearsed with individualized Bach CD's. Some, like Melanie Heyn, learned German.

"This choir had never done Bach before," said singer Martha Cowan. "So it was a stretch."

"This choir is only three years old," noted Brownstead, who has directed music in Los Angeles parishes for more than three decades. "We thought the tour would help us improve and grow because we're putting ourselves out there as church and Los Angeles ambassadors. You learn from other choirs, gain confidence, and get to know the others in your choir. I expect a growth spurt after this tour."

Making friends

After their first rehearsal, the choir participated in a welcoming reception hosted by festival organizers to foster international friendships among the choirs through music and raise money for Bach manuscript preservation. At the reception, the choirs sang individual pieces.

That night, the L.A. Choir performed at modern St. Trinitatis Catholic Church along with the Japanese at the Friendship Concert, featuring musical pieces of friendship and national culture. The L.A. choir sang American folk songs and spirituals, sacred songs and Bach's challenging "Lobet den Herrn" to a warm audience response.

At a post-concert reception, Americans, Japanese, and St. Trinitatis' host choir studied one another's song sheets and sang topgether in a spontaneous cross-cultural celebration. "It showed how you can cross boundaries with music," said the L.A. choir's Alana Jennings.

After a Bach-oriented city tour, the L.A. choir sang three Bach pieces the next evening at St. Thomas Church for the Festival Concert, and joined the other choirs for two Bach songs, including Dona Nobis Pacem ("Grant Us Peace"). They again appreciated the enthusiastic audience reception, and singer Joy Devlin, a Bach devotee, called singing Bach at St. Thomas with all four choirs "heaven on earth."

On Sunday morning the L.A. Choir traveled to Berlin, Los Angeles' sister city, to sing for the Mass at historic St. Hedwig's Catholic Cathedral, and sang several pieces in German and Latin. Msgr. Kevin Kostelnik, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels pastor, concelebrated the Mass with the German Cathedral priest.

Singer Gordon La Cross was inspired by the Berlin appearance. "I sang better than normal," he smiled.

On Monday, L.A. Choir members toured Dresden, then arrived at Leipzig's St. Nicholas Church, where Bach's music was often performed in his time. The church is also the site of Monday night Peace Prayers, which in 1989 spawned street processions for peace and freedom that eventually led to German re-unification.

As part of the Peace Prayers, each choir sang a selection about friendship among nations and peace. The L.A. Choir sang "Caritas et Amor" and joined with the festival choirs. During the Peace Prayers Msgr. Kostelnik praised the people of Leipzig for their grassroots peace and freedom movement which started here. He said he had earlier paid an emotional visit to Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park, and he urged the audience to "Let peace begin with us."

The L.A. Choir then joined in a candlelight procession to the Bach statue at St. Thomas Church, where the choirs sang together to end the festival.

Afterwards, the four choirs congregated for a farewell dinner and casual singing --- "an enjoyable cultural exchange," said Peggy Cribbs. And Brownstead noted that the Korean choir may perform at the L.A. Cathedral in the future.

Reflecting on their adventure, choir members said they were enriched in many ways by the experience.

"I liked seeing other traditions and meeting people from other parts of the world," said Mary Bauer. "Music is an international language."

"I enjoyed the camaraderie and walking in the footsteps of Bach," said Kay Paietta. "We learned new music for this event and grew as a result."

"A choir needs to do concerts," added Lauren Flahive. "Traveling together promotes bonding, which leads to better music. The experience will improve us, and it re-confirmed why I'm a musician."