The sound of choral music echoes through centuries-old churches as Haven’s Silvertones took their music beyond the classroom.
Instead of their usual trip to Italy, the select singing group traveled to Austria this year, performing in cities like Salzburg, Linz, and Hallstatt. Surrounded by the history of classical music, students experienced a deeper connection to the pieces they had spent months preparing.
For junior Louis Lanza, one moment stood out above the rest.
“For me, the most memorable moment of the trip was getting to perform a piece that I arranged for the choir…outside of where it was written in ‘The Sound of Music,’” Lanza said.
Throughout the trip, students performed in historic churches and venues tied to composers such as Anton Bruckner, bringing new meaning to their repertoire.
“It was really special to sing a piece by Bruckner in his actual home church where he lived and composed,” choir director Ms. Lindsey Reinhard-Silva said. “He was actually buried right beneath where we were singing.”
Beyond the locations, students said the audience reactions made the experience unforgettable.
“When we would sing, I would look in the audience, and people would be crying,” senior Lily Newport said. “At one concert, they gave us a standing ovation, and we had to go back on stage and sing again.”
Lanza recalled a similarly emotional performance of his own arrangement of the song ‘Edelweiss.’
“Our final song was ‘Edelweiss,’ and all the parents broke out crying afterward,” Lanza said. “That’s one we’re always going to remember.”
While the performances were a highlight, the trip also offered students opportunities to experience Austrian culture firsthand.
“My number one goal was for them to experience a new culture in a way that felt expansive and welcoming,” Silva said. “They were open to new experiences and performed in a way that felt so mature.”
Freshman Sinaan Maqbool adds that the welcoming environment stood out.
“The culture was really different there,” Maqbool said. “They were very welcoming, and it was just really fun to see everybody.”
Students navigated language barriers, new environments, and increased independence throughout the trip. According to Silva, that shared responsibility led to noticeable growth.
“We went with 41 kids, and they came back as 41 young adults,” Silva said. “They had so much responsibility… and everyone made really good decisions.”
For many, the experience extended beyond music, strengthening relationships within the group.
“I think we all definitely bonded,” sophomore Shira Jasner said. “Each night, everyone got a little closer.”
For some seniors, the trip meant more than cultural experiences and bonding—it marked the end of their time in Silvertones.
“It was bittersweet, in a sense,” Newport said. “I’ve been in Silvertones since sophomore year, and just knowing that it’s gonna be over. It makes me sad that I’m going to leave [Ms. Silva] and everyone in Silvertones. I cried.”
Newport said the trip also reinforced the value of the work students put into the group.
“You put so much work into this, and then you get to go on this super fun trip and show people what you know,” Newport said. “It gives you such a sense of validity.”
As the Silvertones return to Haven, students agree that the trip will stay with them long after their final performance.
“It was one of the greatest experiences in my life,” Lanza said.
