Fond du Lac High School choir recounts Hawaii trip, students say the experience expanded musical opportunities

At the March 23 meeting, Corey Schneider, choir director at Fond du Lac High School, introduced three students who had traveled to Oahu during spring break to perform at the Aloha State Choral Festival and at Pearl Harbor.

Schneider said the noncompetitive Aloha State Choral Festival brought 15 high schools from across the U.S. and Canada together for workshops with collegiate and professional conductors. "We performed in two different festival choirs totaling over 400 singers," student Vicky Dietenberger told the board, adding that judges provided oral and written feedback that helped the singers.

Student James Kraiker described a solemn day at Pearl Harbor, including visits to the Arizona Memorial and to the USS Missouri’s surrender deck. "We were able to view the Arizona Memorial... we were also able to give our leis back to the earth," he said. Macy Scoresby highlighted cultural activities and bonding experiences such as a luau, hiking Diamond Head, a visit to Kualoa Ranch and time at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Schneider told the board the trip was funded by students and families and said, "In fact, over $45,000 was raised for our trip alone to get to Hawaii." He also noted 72 students and chaperones traveled and roughly 25 adults supported the students on-site.

Why this matters: Students described both musical learning — performing for expert adjudicators and participating in large festival choirs — and cultural exchanges that educators said build community and opportunity. Board members congratulated the students and noted three choir members were selected for the Wisconsin School Music Association State Honors Choir.

What’s next: The board acknowledged the students and Schneider, and the meeting moved on to routine business.