Nearly 50 Stetson students will board a plane to Prague in May 2027 to begin a nine-day European tour that will take the students, along with Ryan Person, DMA, conductor and director of choral activities, across the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary.

Prague

This year’s trip begins in Prague with a tour of the Dvořák Museum to view collections about the Maestro’s life and music from the height of the Habsburg golden age, a period of prolific artistic and architectural achievements. The students will then tour several castles as well as the Lobkowicz Palace with its celebrated music archive of works by Handel, Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. That evening, the choir will mark its first performance with a concert at St. Nicholas Church as part of the American Celebration of Music in the Czech Republic concert series.

“Prague is a city of extraordinary beauty and profound musical heritage, a place that leaves a lasting imprint on anyone who walks its streets,” said Person. “As we continue to expand our international footprint, we honor the legacy of the singers and conductors whose passion paved our way and proudly carry the Stetson name forward.”

Vienna

The Concert Choir’s next stop will be a tour of Vienna’s Ringstráße, Imperial Palace, State Opera and Burgkapelle, the home of the Vienna Boys Choir. Later that evening the choir will perform at Minoritenkirche as part of the American Celebration of Music in Austria tour. Built in the 13th century, the Minoritenkirche is renowned for its stunning acoustic properties, making it a popular music venue.

During their time in Vienna, the choir will also perform at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, built in the 12^th century and the site of Mozart’s wedding as well as his and Vivaldi’s funeral. The performance will be followed by a visit to the Museum of the Vienna Philharmonic and quite possibly a walk through the scenic Vienna Woods which Beethoven often visited for inspiration.

On the way to Budapest, they will stop in Eisenstadt, the historic capital of Burgenland Austria, and home to the world famous Esterházy Palace, where Haydn lived and worked as the court musician and Kapellmeister for nearly 40 years.

Budapest

The choir’s final stop will be Budapest, the “Queen of the Danube” and home of famed composer Franz Liszt. This ancient imperial city is renowned for its striking architecture along the banks of the Danube River. Before heading back to the United States, the choir will perform at the Church of the Holy Angels as part of the American Celebration of Music in Hungary tour.

“One of our priorities at the Stetson University School of Music is to create opportunities for students that they might never have imagined possible,” said Washington Garcia, DMA, dean of the School of Music. “We invest significant financial resources to make international experiences more accessible because we believe every student should have the opportunity to discover the world through music. These journeys offer perspectives and experiences that stay with our students long after they graduate.”

The university’s rich musical heritage spans more than 140 years with the Stetson Concert Choir composed of talented vocalists who are selected by audition each year. Throughout their tour experience, the choir will be assisted by Pingyi Song, DMA, associate director of choral activities.

-Deb Lovett