The Great Gustie Gathering of 2021 was a day full of joy, nostalgia, cheer, and reminiscence. With former, current, and potential students gathering to celebrate the Gustavus community, it was the homecoming everyone so desperately needed. To begin the commemorative day, Christ Chapel held a service to remember former Gustavus students and employees that passed away within the last year. A choir made up of Gustavus alumni and current students aided the service of remembrance with their performances of Meet Me Here by Craig Hella Johnson and The Kontakion by Rupert Lang.
The Alumni Choir is a Homecoming and Reunion Weekend activity that encourages alumni to join in song with current Gustavus choir students. The Alumni Choir began in 1933 by David Holdusen. Holdusen’s goal was to bring together former and present students in the hopes of uniting different generations through music. The tradition holds strong today with the Gustavus Homecoming of 2021 consisting of 40 alumni that executed a sentimental performance to honor deceased Gustavus students and faculty.
To aid in such recognition, Reverend Grady St. Dennis named each person in the Gustavus community who passed in the last year, including Warren Beck ‘67. Due to his everlasting impact on the Gustavus community, he and his wife, Donna Beck, inspired the name of The Warren & Donna Beck Academic Hall.
The success of The Great Gustie Gathering of 2021 was possible due to such performances by the Alumni Choir and Gustavus Choir students. The rich history of the Gustavus choir will forever be held by alumni that continue to honor those that came before and after their time on top of the hill.
