For members of the Green Level Chorus, this year’s spring break wasn’t just time off. Instead of staying home, the group spent the week in London, where they had the chance to perform and experience a new city together.
For senior Halle Piper, the realization that she would be performing abroad didn’t fully sink in at first.
“I was just so surprised,” Piper says. “I was like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe we’re doing this,’ because we had never gone to another country.”
That excitement, however, came with uncertainty. With a large group of around 75 students traveling together, there were plenty of unknowns.
“I was a little nervous,” Piper says. “I wasn’t sure how the trip was going to go, or how school was going to work with it. There was just a lot of planning, but I was definitely really excited.”
Despite those initial nerves, the experience exceeded expectations. For many students, including Piper, it was their first time leaving the country.
“Honestly, it was way more fun than any of us expected,” she says. “It was nice to just kind of get away, but also be with people that we see on a regular basis and just enjoy something that we love doing.”
The highlight of the trip, the performance itself, stood out as a uniquely professional experience. Unlike typical school concerts, the choir performed alongside experienced musicians.
“We had a professional orchestra with us, and a professional pianist and conductors,” Piper says. “It was honestly just a really cool experience, especially since I’m graduating soon.”
Even with the excitement, performing in an unfamiliar environment brought added pressure.
“It was definitely more stressful, because we’re in a different country and we don’t know where we are or really what we’re doing,” she says. “But I definitely prefer it over being at home. Overall, it was just a really fun experience.”
While much of the trip focused on sightseeing and exploration, the performance still left a lasting impact on the group.
“Being in that space, with the professional orchestra and all these important people there, was really cool,” Piper says. “I think it made us sing better and be more motivated.”
The week was not without its challenges. Long travel days, packed schedules, and physical exhaustion tested the group’s endurance.
“On our performance day, we were up all day—probably more than 15 hours,” she says. “Everyone’s legs were hurting so bad from exhaustion when we had to stand up on that stage and sing.”
Even so, Piper emphasized that the group pushed through together. “I think everyone handled it really well, and it was definitely worth it,” she says.
Looking back, Piper says the experience was about more than just music; it was about growth, connection, and taking in every moment.
“If someone else had the opportunity to go on a trip like this, I would tell them to be open to the experience and live in the moment,” she says. “I was really nervous, I didn’t really know what I was doing. But even so, it was really great, and everyone had an amazing time. It was definitely an experience that I would do all over again.”
