Why Choirs Tour: Immersive Experiences That Create Lasting Bonds

For many young singers, choir tours are about much more than traveling to a new city or performing on a different stage. They are immersive experiences that challenge students artistically, foster independence and create meaningful friendships.

Touring has long been an important part of the North Coast Singers’ mission. “Collaboration is key,” expressed Michelle Risling, the organization’s Artistic Director, who prioritizes collaborative events for the organization’s youth ensembles including a June 2027 tour to Colorado.

From inspiring performance tours to special educational workshops, young singers discover that music has the power to connect people across communities, cultures and generations.

Hear the Power of Shared Voices

Touring gives students the chance to collaborate with singers and conductors from different backgrounds, age groups and geographies. Performing with larger ensembles enables young musicians to experience major works and artistic opportunities that may not be possible in their home choir alone.

North Coast Singers Founder Sally Husch Dean believes these experiences help students become part of something larger than themselves. "Learning the music, oftentimes in another language, always memorized, watching a new conductor for entrance cues—these are lessons in focus, patience and fortitude," she explained.

Choir tours challenge singers musically while empowering students to hear and feel the power of shared voices intermixing to produce a complex and beautiful sound. 

Risling will never forget her very first choir tour to New York City, when she was a choir student herself under Husch Dean’s direction. The event was an intergenerational choir festival held at the cavernous Cathedral of St. John the Divine, where soaring vaults reach roughly 17 stories high. “I remember the way our voices echoed around the cathedral and hearing the power in the adult voices, which is something I had never experienced before,” she described. “It got me hooked.”

Experience Community Beyond the Rehearsal Room

Music has a remarkable ability to bring people together. Touring allows students to foster connection in ways that are difficult to replicate in a familiar rehearsal space.

Meeting singers from diverse backgrounds encourages students to listen carefully, embrace new perspectives and appreciate cultural differences. Whether sharing songs, stories or traditions, these interactions often inspire curiosity about the world and help young people develop empathy and global awareness.

In addition to incredible performance opportunities, touring provides choir students the chance to delve into a part of the world they may have only read about in books. From New York and West Virginia to Austria and Cuba, North Coast Singers has visited a wide variety of national and international destinations in its 33-year history.

Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

Traveling with a choir teaches responsibility and independence. Students learn to manage schedules, wake up on time, keep track of their belongings, follow directions and adapt to unfamiliar environments. 

These may seem like small things, but traveling with adults who may not be their own parents helps young people grow in confidence, maturity and self-awareness. Being away from home also encourages singers to become more independent while learning to rely on their fellow choir members. In the process, they return with not only stronger musical skills, but also a greater sense of responsibility and feeling of self-reliance.

Longtime choir parent Miel Burnett, whose daughter participated in many North Coast Singers choir tours, discussed how much the organization meant to her family. “North Coast Singers was by far the most meaningful activity my daughter pursued in middle and high school. The artistry, the social growth, the great friends … she grew emotionally and vocally. It was wonderful to watch,” Burnett shared. 

Make Meaningful Bonds

Some of the most memorable moments on tour happen outside of the actual performance. Long bus rides, rehearsals with lots of waiting time and sightseeing activities all bring singers closer together. And it is often the simple moments —laughing with friends late at night, getting ready for concerts together and sharing stories with roommates in hotel rooms—that create the strongest memories.

These collective experiences cultivate trust, teamwork and a sense of belonging that is difficult to duplicate. Many lifelong friendships begin on choir tours, as students form connections that endure.

Work Toward a Common Goal

The excitement leading up to a tour can be just as meaningful as the trip itself. Preparing challenging repertoire and working toward a shared performance motivates singers, strengthens attendance and pushes students to reach new artistic heights.

There is a special feeling that comes from working together toward a common goal and finally stepping on stage knowing that months of preparation have led to that moment.

The pride and accomplishment students feel after performing together often stays with them long after the final applause.

Looking Ahead to Denver in 2027

The upcoming North Coast Singers season will culminate with the Sing A Mile High International Choral Festival in June 2027, hosted by Young Voices of Colorado. Under the direction of highly respected guest conductors, the festival will bring together singers from around the country and the world for inspiring rehearsals, social events, sightseeing and a collaborative concert at Colorado School of Mines.

More than a performance opportunity, the summer tour promises to be an unforgettable experience that celebrates friendship, artistry and the joy of singing together. If you're interested in learning more about the North Coast Singers youth choir program, email Info@NorthCoastSingers.com.

While choir tours may begin with music, they often leave students with something even more valuable: lasting friendships, greater confidence and memories that stay with them for years to come.

Amanda Swiecki is an Honors student at Villanova University School of Business. She serves as a Marketing Intern for North Coast Singers, made possible by the Vocare Summer Fellows program.