McDaniel's Gospel Choir and director, Music Lecturer Eric Byrd, were glad to oblige when the American Embassy decided to start a U.S. culture week in Bolivia. But the nine student singers who traveled to the South American country April 9 had no idea that hundreds of people would line up to see them, and even stand outside the venues’ windows, hoping to hear some notes of music in the breeze.

“The students were pretty blown away,” says Byrd. “They all had the same feeling. They were amazed at how hungry the Bolivian people were for music.”

According to the American ambassador to Bolivia, the McDaniel College Gospel Choir was the only U.S. gospel choir ever to perform in the country. The audience totaled between 800 and 1,100 people for each of the seven church performances in La Paz and Santa Cruz. Byrd says the singers were treated like celebrities, and audience members asked them to sign autographs after each performance.

“I learned a lot about myself,” said Communication major Terré Thomas. “I was proud and humbled to be an American and to have the privileges I have. But also, I learned and grew more in my walk with God. I truly feel blessed to have had such an opportunity.”

The group, which includes Rachel Downs ’07, Ashley Jenkins ’07, Kristin O’Toole ’09, Shauntesia Nixon ’07, Christopher Reed ’08, Kimberly Spears ’07, Raphael Taylor ’03, Terré Thomas ’07 and Shante Williams ’07, has been asked to return to Bolivia for future performances.