Touring Choir Europe Trip

Since its founding in 1917, Eastern Mennonite School, a K-12 private anabaptist school, has placed a strong emphasis on music and the arts, integrating them into its curriculum as essential components of student development. Choral singing, in particular, has been a longstanding tradition aimed at preserving traditional four-part a cappella singing and preparing students to lead church services.

Over the decades, EMS has cultivated a reputation for choral excellence. The Touring Choir consistently receives top ratings at the Virginia Choral Directors Association District V Choral Ensemble Festival and the Virginia Music Educators Association convention. Additionally, many students are selected to participate in prestigious regional and all-state choirs.

The choir program, directed by Dr. Francis Yun, is not only a foundational element of the school’s identity but also a transformative experience for students. Jesse Blosser, the EMS Director of Business Affairs, highlights the significance of the touring choir trips, which have been a biennial tradition for the past 30 years.

These trips often serve as capstone experiences for our students, with recent tours taking students to renowned cultural sites across Europe.

This year’s tour included visits to the Voces 8 Foundation in England and various churches in Germany. Students had the unique opportunity to stay with host families, immersing themselves in different cultures and experiencing local customs first-hand. Effie Eads, a member of the EMS Class of 2026, fondly recalls the moving performance at a Catholic church and the poignant experience of singing the Benediction for the last time on tour.

Dr. Yun particularly appreciated the enthusiastic response from audiences, noting the energy and support felt during performances, especially when singing in a cathedral for the first time. Students and faculty alike express deep gratitude for these enriching experiences and eagerly anticipate future tours.