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.

PHS Choir tours Naples, Sorrento, and Rome in Italy 

After months of debate and community discussions, all three parts of Princeton Public School’s $89.1 million referendum were officially approved by Princeton voters on January 28, 2025. The first two parts of the referendum, which will fund infrastructure and educational improvements at PHS and PMS, were passed by a margin of 2,075–1,317 and 1,973–1,410 respectively, while the third part, which will fund expansions at Littlebrook Elementary, passed by a slightly closer margin of 1,890–1,491.

With the referendum approved, the district must now decide how to execute the projects. The money will go towards facility upgrades, including HVAC overhauls, technology improvements, and enhanced security throughout the school district.

“The most important [things] that we’re doing with this referendum [are] adding 23 classrooms and five small group instruction rooms, and we’re going to fix the HVAC at Princeton High School,” said Dafna Kendal, president of the Princeton Board of Education.

PPS has not yet released the details of the contract process, in which the district hires private companies to execute specific projects. PPS Business Administrator Matthew Bouldin noted that while the district aims to keep the public informed, some details can’t be shared immediately.

“We will give periodic financial reports, but we don’t want to be so transparent that we stifle competitive bidding on our projects by telling [contractors] what we think it will cost, or have budgeted,” said Bouldin. “With multiple projects happening at once, we have to leverage our professional consultants — architects, engineers, and construction managers — to keep everything on track.”

Inflation and logistical challenges could affect the construction timeline, with some projects expected to begin this summer and others that may take years to complete. Bouldin emphasized that managing costs will be key as inflation and tariffs impact material prices.

“We have built-in cushions but may have to do value engineering, which [could mean] scope changes and alternate bids,” said Bouldin. “A referendum cannot use interest earnings to expand the dollars spent, [but] the district can augment [costs] through capital reserves.”

That means any interest earned on the referendum’s funds can’t be added to the project budget. However, the district can use its capital reserves, which are funds set aside for long-term projects, to cover unexpected costs or supplement spending if needed.

Despite concerns over inflation and potential high spending, Kendal believes the referendum was the right financial choice for the district.

“Years of planning went into this, and I think that these three questions are the most cost-effective [options] that were available,” said Kendal. “I think that dollar for dollar, we’re going to get the most bang out of our buck, and also the $19.9 million of state aid, which will help to lower the tax burden.”

With the assistance provided through state debt service funding, it is estimated that the three questions passed in the referendum will result in an annual property tax increase of $532 for the average household in Princeton. This has caused some household residents, especially those without children currently in the school district, to speak out against the referendum.

“I am one of those many people whose taxes ballooned more than once in order to support what by now feels like a black hole of need,” said Princeton resident Daniella Bittman in a letter to local newspaper *Town Topics*.

PHS principal Cecilia Birge has a different metaphor to describe the passed referendum.

“For the referendum, it’s like our own house, right? For us at the high school level, we live in a 96-year-old building, and things through wear and tear need updating. Every 10 to 15 years, a lot of these machines need to be replaced. New technology comes in, and they need to be replaced,” said Birge. “As a taxpayer, I may not be here in five years, so it’s more equitable for me to pay my portion over time rather than all up front. It allows the burden to be shared by those who are still here when the improvements last.”


Voters approve all three parts of PPS’s $89.1 million referendum

On December 19, Princeton High School held its 79th
annual winter concert at the Princeton University Chapel.
The event featured performances from the three orchestras,
Repertoire, Sinfonia, and PHS Orchestra, and the five choirs,
Chorale I and II, Cantus, PHS Choir, and Chamber Choir.

The orchestras performed pieces by various composers
from England, Germany, Czechia, Argentina, and Italy.
The Sinfonia and Repertoire Orchestras opened with
pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach and Gustav Mahler,
while the PHS Orchestra played pieces by composers such
as Astor Piazzolla and Ralph Vaughan Williams. Among
the selections, Piazzolla’s works stood out to performers.
“My favorite piece is ‘Oblivion’ by Astor Piazzolla, because
I like how the orchestra is connected [with] each other in
providing the base beat,” said Helen Yu ’27, a violinist from
PHS Orchestra. “The sound of the flute sings above the
orchestra, with the harmonies making the piece delicate
and beautiful.”

The choir groups also performed music from various
languages, styles, and periods, featuring Christmas carols
and unique sacred songs from Italy. Their concert selections
were influenced by their upcoming trip to Italy, where they
will perform music reflecting the country’s rich traditions.

“Many of our songs are in different languages, so they
require some extra time to learn [the] words,” said Chamber
Choir member Maya Halcomb ’25.

To prepare for the winter concert, the choirs and
orchestras started rehearsals in October and practiced four
days a week, in addition to preparations with friends and
individually outside of school.

“There are some extra [rehearsals] here and there when
there is an upcoming event,” said Jessica Carrera ’27, a
member of Cantus. “Overall, practice [ran] smoothly, and
learning new songs is always rewarding.”

While the concert at the chapel is an annual event,
featuring the same format communal compositions every year, each performance still provides a distinctive
experience. 

“It is the different personnel, different repertoires, and
the audience there that evening that make it very special,”
said orchestra director Robert Loughran.

The blending of all of the choir’s voice parts was essential
to the style of music they performed.

“I hope [the audience] appreciated the work we put
in and gained an ear for the style of music we perform,”
said Halcomb. “While it may not be pop music, there is
something to be said about the harmonies and magic of
singing with so many people.”

The winter concert is shaped by the audience. Every year,
these performances aim to create memorable connections
between the music and the listeners.

“I hope the audience enjoyed our performances and came
out with a personal connection, like a new perspective,
inspiration, or curiosity,” said Carrera. 

Choirs and orchestras unite to fill Princeton University Chapel with music

### Connecting through cultures

By Asma Frough

Thanksgiving, the heart and joy of November, is celebrated in the United
States and Canada every fall, when people gather with their families to ap-
preciate the blessings of the past year. The holiday holds a special place in
many people’s hearts, as it is a time for family reunions, celebration,
gratitude, and delicious food. It’s a joyful time of year that symbolizes
the transition from fall to winter, marking the cold weather. For me,
however, the joy of celebrating Thanksgiving always felt empty.

I was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. I grew up there as a Muslim girl,
getting to experience other joyful celebrations such as Eid and
Nawroz (the Muslim New Year). Those occasions, especially
Eid, have a special place in my heart. Every morning of Eid,
I would excitedly wake up and put on the new clothes that
I chose for myself. The scent of my mom’s cooking and freshly
baked pastries would fill the entire house as I waited for guests and
family to arrive so we could enjoy the delicious food together. Getting to
see my cousins and receive gifts from the adults made the celebration
all the more special.

When I moved to the United States in August of 2022, I was introduced
to a whole new culture and society that I was previously unfamiliar with;
I had never celebrated Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. Although
I knew a little about how people celebrated Halloween and Christmas,
Thanksgiving was completely new to me. What was this celebration that
took up two whole days of school? That year, my family and I were invited
to our first Thanksgiving in a church by some friends. When I went there,
I saw so many people and so many different types of food.
I soon realized the holiday’s true meaning, which led me to dis-
cover that it is actually very similar to what we do during Eid. Even
though Eid is celebrated to end the fasting month of Ramadan for
Muslims, it brings people together, just like Thanksgiving. Since my
first Thanksgiving experience, my family and I have looked forward to this
holiday every year.

On Thanksgiving day, my mom prepares different dishes that mix
our own cultural food with classic Thanksgiving dishes; for instance,
she often serves the Afghan rice dish Qabuli with a turkey. On this day,
we all gather around to enjoy the meal and spend quality time with each
other, appreciating everyone and everything in our lives. My Thanksgiving
celebration connects me back to my country and to the joyful celebrations
of Eid, while helping me create new cherished memories.

### Finding magic in the mess

By Samantha Henderson

A long time ago, my dad and his siblings decided, to keep things fair,
that they would split hosting holidays. My aunt took Easter and my uncle
claimed Christmas Eve, which left arguably the most elaborate holiday,
Thanksgiving, to my family. Every year it sneaks up on us. Only when the
leaves have all fallen to the ground and November has begun are we suddenly
reminded of Thanksgiving.

A week or so into November, my family gathers with a spreadsheet from
the year before, going over all of the things we won’t do again. For example,
we always make way too many sides; every year we say, “This year we won’t
have leftovers for weeks,” and every year we’re still eating stuffing two weeks
after Thanksgiving.

Besides this initial spreadsheet making, for the first few weeks of November,
nobody is really worried about Thanksgiving preparations. As the day creeps
closer, however, this laissez-faire attitude slowly shifts to full-blown panic. I
know the Thanksgiving anxiety has fully set in when my parents struggle to
fit 20 chairs into our dining room. On Thanksgiving morning, the kitchen
quickly becomes a frenzy of activity. My dad and grandma will peer
nervously in the oven at the turkey as my mom stirs the cranberry sauce
on the stove and my brother and I hurriedly set the table.

When people start to arrive, this frenzy soon turns to chaos, as the house
begins to resemble the scene in “Home Alone” when the McCallisters are
leaving for the airport. In my house, football always blares from the den, where
everybody huddles around the TV, yelling at the Giants. I set out the placecards
in the dining room. My uncle uses every spoon in the house to stir canned
cranberry sauce into the pot of homemade sauce that my mom labored over
for hours. My brother and cousin playfully shoot each other with Nerf guns
while my aunt ducks, creamed spinach in hand.

When dinner is finally ready, I breathe a sigh of relief. Everybody drops
what they’re doing and rushes to make themselves plates. Once
we’re all gathered around the table, my grandpa, Big Mac,
begins a toast. “Let’s all go around the table and say what
we’re grateful for,” he’ll say. Every year as I listen to everyone
share what they are thankful for, it hits me all over again what
Thanksgiving is really about: giving thanks. It doesn’t matter if some
spinach got spilled on the floor or if the Giants lost or if there is way too
much cauliflower. Getting to sit around the table with my family is the most
important thing to be thankful for and, ultimately, that’s the reason why Big
Mac has made this same toast every year for as long as I can remember.

The Tower

Asma Frough's Work

The Tower