International students join St. Patrick Parish's choir
Source: The Vindicator
YOUNGSTOWN -- Several international students who are working on master's degrees in musical performance and nursing degrees are sharing their musical and vocal talents as part of the choir at St. Patrick Parish on the city's South Side.
Kris Harper, choir director, said the students have been part of the choir since last fall and will perform for St. Patrick's Day and the Easter season.
The choir has new members who are international college students, including one whose home parish in Pakistan also is named for St. Patrick.
Two Youngstown State University graduate music performance students -- Wilhelmine Maria Loe, 24, of Indonesia, and Xiao Yu Xing, 25, of China, both of Youngstown -- hold bachelor's degrees in musical performance.
The two have performed at the church, with Loe on piano and organ, and Xiao on euphonium and have attended since last fall when Harper contacted them to see if they would be available to participate in the choir.
Loe has performed at the church three times and Xiao one time.
"We enjoy this. It gives us experience performing in front of a group. We have gotten to know the other international students who play in this church. I am Catholic, so this was a great opportunity for me," Loe said, noting she also has performed at St. Columba Cathedral as a choir member.
Xiao said Harper invited him to take part as well and he was pleased to see so many international students.
Loe said music is her calling.
"It is nice to be able to share music with people, which I am passionate about." Loe said with her Catholic background, she knows what to expect at Catholic churches.
The two said good networking has allowed them to connect with many churches in the Youngstown area to gain experience,
"Everyone has been very nice and kind to us. We want to give back. This is a great benefit for us to be here. It helps me to grow in my faith, to interact with people and learn more about the culture," Loe said.
"It is important that we show people our music," Xiao said.
NURSING STUDENTS
Harper said the nursing students are working on their master's degrees from Rio Grande University online. The students are from Zimbabwe, Ghana, Pakistan and Nigeria.
They started coming to the church in January to be part of the choir, Harper said. They plan to stay for three years as they work toward their degrees.
Rose Konadu Osei of Ghana said the group comes to the church every Sunday.
Sharoon Naseen of Pakistan said he was excited to be able to join the choir in Youngstown because he is part of a choir at his church in Pakistan, which also is St. Patrick.
"The people at the church have been very supportive," he said.
Naseen said upon his arrival in Youngstown, he looked up parishes and found St. Patrick on Oak Hill Avenue. He came for a visit, took pictures to send home, then showed members of the local congregation photos of his home parish.
Abigail Atta Yeboah of Ghana said being a part of the church choir has proven a unique experience.
Harper said the international students have spouses and families back home.
Raymond Zimtam of Ghana said he is excited to be at the church.
"There is a feeling of belonging here," he said.
Members of the church choir are glad to have the additional singers.
Kathy Zimmermann of Pennsylvania said the experience is "reciprocal.
"They are sharing with us how much they enjoy this and we enjoy having them here. When I first saw Abigail here, she was beaming and smiling. She was exuberating joy," Zimmermann said.