The music department is taking a group of about 240 students from the choir, the band and the orchestra to Europe for two weeks this summer, from July 6 to July 20.

This trip only takes place once every three years, so several students signed up as soon as they had the opportunity to. Many parents as well as school administrators will accompany the students, making the size of the group about 300.

“I think it will be a lot of fun,” said sophomore Kaitna Shankar. “It will be my first time traveling outside of the country without my parents, and I’ll learn how to be independent and responsible.”

The trip’s cost totals to about $4,000 per traveler, and the instruments will be insured either by the school or by homeowners insurance.

They will visit various cities like Zurich, Switzerland; Interlaken, Switzerland; Salzburg, Austria, Vienna, Austria; Schladming, Austria; and Munich, Germany. Apart from evening concerts at Casino Kursaal, Murzzuschlag Church and the Dachstein-Tauern Halle, the group will also be competing in several music festivals such as the Vienna International Youth and Music Festival, the Mid Europe Festival and the Jungfrau Festival.

Also, they will have a chance to personally explore the cities they will be visiting. Choir teacher Jim Yowell, along with band and orchestra teacher Michael Boitz and music secretary Janet Verson have spent a lot of time organizing this trip to ensure that the students will enjoy it. They have planned several guided tours so that the students not only get to see the different countries, but learn about them as well.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity for us. We could perform in festivals here, but by going to Europe, we get to experience different cultures and have a chance to see another part of the world,” said junior Joshua Liu.