The hills and halls of Italy were alive with the sound of the PHS Choir as the 97 singers embarked on their week-long performance tour this February. In taking the choir overseas, PHS Choir Director Vincent Metallo and Associate Choir Director Sarah Pelletier hoped to give their students the chance to share their music with new audiences, grow as performers and people, and experience Italian culture.

During their time in Italy, the cities of Naples and Rome served as their main hubs for a packed itinerary. They performed six concerts in venues including a medieval castle, churches, high schools, and a university.

“The thing that [excited] me most about visiting Italy [was] the different venues, the different spaces [since] PHS Choir usually only performs in the PAC or at the Princeton Chapel,” said Benjamin Caswell Klein ’27.

The students performed a diverse repertoire tailored to the different venues. Adhering to the requirements of Italian churches, they prepared programs consisting of only traditional sacred music. On other occasions, they sang gospel and folk music, Italian pop songs, traditional Italian music, and more. One of their pieces, “Home” by Philip Phillips, also featured choir member Nikolai Margulis ’25 performing on his banjo.

In addition to their three solo performances, the choir collaborated with some local choirs. During these joint concerts, they sang pieces like “Amazing Grace” and “Total Praise” together.

“[I was excited] to see other performers, and see how we relate to them, how we compare to them,” said Soha Jameel ’26.

The students had begun learning pieces as early as September and refined them in concerts throughout the semester, including an Italian music-themed concert in October, as well as December’s winter concert.

While the trip was music-centered, the choir immersed themselves in Italy’s rich cultural history. Between concerts, students took a day trip to visit the ruins of Pompeii, attended “gladiator school,” toured the Vatican, and tried their hand at Italian cooking in Rome. These were opportunities for students to create lasting memories together and grow closer as a group.

“I learned how to be a part of a team [on the trip]. We really had to work together as a group, especially with 100 people [and] stick together,” said Lily Berkery ’26.

According to Pelletier, group bonding is just one of many reasons the PHS Choir tour, which has been going on since the 1970s, is such a long-lasting tradition.

“When you ask students what are things they remember from high school, this tour is one of the things that they really remember,” said Pelletier. “Because [tour means] really being an ambassador for our school through music ... and taking our music to other countries and collaborating with other groups in these countries, it’s just so meaningful and really makes an impact for the students in what music can actually be.