Students in Girls’ 21, the auditioned women’s choir, had the opportunity to travel to Dublin, Ireland this March. They departed on Wednesday, March 21 and arrived back a week later, on the 28. 

Director of Girls’ 21 Adam Cave accompanied the group, and English teacher Emily Cave went along as a chaperone, as did Assitant Principal Kevin Uhlig and Activities Director Krista Keogh. The group had numerous performances while in Ireland. 

“We performed nearly every day,” senior Erin Becker said. “We performed with two different schools.” 

The three auditioned choirs (Girls’ 21, Troubadours, and Meistersingers) go on tours once every school year. Usually these trips are within the United States, such as their trip to New York City last year. Once every three years, however, Meisters and Girls’ 21 go on a trip outside of the US. 

In addition to the performances and exchanges with other schools, Girls’ 21 had the opportunity to have a clinic, where a choral expert listens to and critiques the group. Like every choir tour, the group also had the time for socializing and entertainment not involving choir. 

“We went to this Irish pub, and there was this band there, and they played Irish music, and there were Irish tap-dancers,” Williams said. “We just got to eat dinner and party with them.” 

Choir tours also provide the opportunity for those in the group to interact with one another and know each other on a level that may not happen during class. Becker says group interactions were some of the best parts of the trip. 

They also performed in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which is over 800 years old. Ireland’s historical buildings and green landscape inspired Becker. 

“It’s just green, and it rains all the time,” Becker said. “You just drive down the road and there’s like a cathedral and a castle… and sheep. God, there’s lots of sheep.”