On March 20th, 2025, the Varsity Choir and the Varsity Jazz Band went on a music trip to Hawaii. They both participated in the World Strides Festival, where student musicians had the opportunity to perform on the big stage.
Before performing at the competition, they performed at the Ala Moana Centre, a large shopping mall in Hawaii. Performing in front of hundreds of mall visitors, musicians were able to train before the actual performance.
For Varsity Choir members, it was their first time without Mr and Mrs. Stenson’s accompaniment. Despite the Varsity Choir being very chaotic initially, the students overcame the difficulty through constant practice and teamwork. Additionally, both Choir and Jazz Band members strengthened their bond with the music department.
At the competition, Varsity Choir achieved an adjudicator award and a gold award, placing second overall. The Varsity Jazz Band achieved the best band award, the outstanding band award, and a gold award, placing first place at the competition. Both Varsity Choir and scored an average of 95 out of 100, marking their significant success at the festival.
A Varsity Choir member, Aahan Batra (’27), stated that, “It was a good experience, interacting and collaborating with fellow musicians,” mentioning how the trip helped strengthen their teamwork and musical skills.
