Often times, choir groups on campus receive the opportunity to travel out of town for performances and competitions. Ladies ensemble recently took a trip to New York City and performed in Carnegie Hall, but this weekend the elementary choir will have its opportunity to be in the spotlight. Elementary choir will take a trip to Santa Cruz, May 7, to compete against other choirs while also spending some time at the beach.

Choir director, Susan Ainley, typically takes the elementary choir on two trips each year. The events feature competitions in which the students are judged against themselves in order to improve. The elementary choir previously went to Cal Poly this year for a similar competition.

Ainley decided that the class should go to Santa Cruz because the choir had never competed there before.

“We have already been to Cal Poly this year in March,” Ainley said. “Mrs. Banister and I looked at this organization called Music in the Parks which has festivals in basically every amusement park in California. We chose Santa Cruz because we had never done it before.”

The choir will leave at six in the morning for Santa Cruz and will be performing at eleven thirty later in the morning. Elementary students will also be given wristbands so that they can go on the rides at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk for the rest of the day.

Although Ainley just came home from a trip to New York with the ladies ensemble, she is looking forward to the event and believes the choir will perform great.

“Elementary choir has a really lovely sound,” Ainley said. “I haven’t seen them in a week because of New York but they have been doing really well. They are singing two new songs and I think they will do great.”

Parents and chaperones will also be on the trip with the students. Anyone who wants more information on the trip can contact Ainley or the school office.

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