Gateway Music Festivals & Tours

06/10/2024

Pipestone High School Marching Band 🥁
Day 1: Arrived in South Dakota at Mount Rushmore. After walking the trail and taking photos, they headed to the Fort Hays "Dances With Wolves" film set and the Chuck wagon dinner & show.
Day 2: Stopped in Missoula, MT for breakfast before continuing on to the Silverwood theme park in Couer d'Alene, ID and resting for the night.
Day 3: Made their way to Portland to explore the International Rose test garden & have dinner at the margarita factory.

06/10/2024

The Bexley HS Vocal Ensemble finished their tour with a dinner & dance cruise, performances at Princeton’s chapel & the historic Christ Church, and a chilling ghost tour. Before you know it, it was time to say goodbye to Philly!

06/08/2024

The Bexley HS Vocal Ensemble finished up their time in NYC with a visit to the 9/11 Memorial, One World Observatory and Little Italy. Then it was time to head to Philly! They started with a tour of historic Philadelphia and then gave a beautiful performance at St. Paul’s Episcopal church. 😊🎶

06/06/2024

The Bexley HS Vocal Ensemble is making the most of their time in NYC! Guided city tour, performances at St. Patrick’s & St. John the Divine, Met Opera (Turandot) and a Broadway play!

06/05/2024

06/04/2024

The Heritage Singers of Minot, North Dakota arrived in Paris to begin their journey across France. Let the fun begin.

05/25/2024

Morningside University Choir’s spectacular South African sojourn has sadly come to an end. Before heading to the airport, the group stopped at Lion and Safari Park for one final adventure. Aboard caged jeeps, they saw lions, antelope, giraffes, leopards, and wild dogs up close in their natural environment.

05/24/2024

Oak Mountain Middle School band & choir had a fantastic time exploring Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. From checking out Suess land to Hogwarts and Jurassic Park, they had a fun filled 2 days. For the last stop on their trip, they travelled to Rollin's College, where they were treated to a magical performance by multiple musical guests.

05/24/2024

Take a moment to listen to a snippet of the Morningside University Choir’s closing number that always brings the house down.

05/24/2024

The next stop for Morningside University Choir on their South African adventure was Pretoria. After lunch, the group checked into the beautiful Maslow Time Square Hotel, where they had some time to relax before their joint concert with the Conwonnite Community Choir. The following morning, the group embarked on a tour of Pretoria, which included a history lesson on the rich and turbulent past of South Africa's beautiful administrative capital. They passed the Voortrekker Monument, honoring the Great Trek, Freedom Park, and ended at the Union Buildings, where they paused to enjoy the manicured gardens and take a group photo under the statue of Nelson Mandela. After a relaxing afternoon in the 15th floor pool at the hotel, the choir performed a promoted concert with the University of Pretoria Chorale and Veni Cantare. It was an incredible night of music making!

05/23/2024

Morningside University Choir began their trek to Pilanesberg National Park and the Bakubung Bush Lodge. Upon arrival, the group loaded into open sided jeeps for their first safari experience. They saw elephants, rhinos, giraffes, warthogs, zebras, greater kudus, waterbuck and many other animals in their natural habitat.

05/20/2024

After catching a flight to Johannesburg, the Morningside University Choir drove through Soweto to visit the Nelson Mandela National Museum (commonly referred to as Mandela House), Nelson Mandela's home from 1946 to 1962, where they saw a collection of memorabilia, paintings and photographs of the Mandela family. The group also visited the Hector Pieterson Memorial, where they learned about the apartheid government and the uprising that led to its demise. Later that afternoon, the choir performed an exchange concert with the Morris Isaacson Centre for Music. It was an emotion-filled afternoon as both groups shared their music and also sang together, proving that music is the universal language.

The following day, the group traveled to the Lesedi Cultural Village to learn about the history, cultures and traditions of the many African tribal homesteads. After an interactive drumming lesson and dance show, everyone enjoyed a Pan-African feast. Before returning to the hotel, the choir stopped at the Maropeng Visitor Center, where they learned about the development of humans and indigenous ancestry over the last 3 million years.

05/19/2024

Morningside University Choir continued their South African adventure with a visit to the top of Table Mountain. The ride to the top of the mountain, via the aerial cableway, was a thrilling experience in itself, but once they reached the top, the views were breathtaking and emotional. Following a Cape Town city tour, the choir had free time to explore the V&A Waterfront before dinner at the Gold restaurant, where they enjoyed various African dishes and traditional entertainment.

The next day, everyone enjoyed a visit to Cape Winelands and the delightful town of Franschhoek, followed by a wine tasting at a local winery. A joint concert with the Fezeka High School choir at the V&A Waterfront Amphitheater, in front of a large audience, culminated a perfect day.

05/19/2024

The Morningside University Choir tour to South Africa has begun! The first day was full of breathtaking views of Chapman’s Peak, the Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Beach, home of the African Penguins. A joint concert featuring the Morningside University Choir and the Cape Town Camerata capped off the start of this amazing tour.

04/22/2024

White Bear Lake Area HS Jazz Band immersed themselves in jazz at the Eau Claire Jazz Festival over the weekend! The festival, focused on jazz education and performance, provided a platform for students to showcase their talents and receive feedback from industry experts. They attended classes, witnessed performances by other schools, and explored educational vendors at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire campus. To top it off, they enjoyed a special concert series featuring jazz luminaries Sean Jones and Lewis Nash.

04/20/2024

The Irondale High School choir concluded their spectacular Southern California tour with a memorable visit to Tuna Harbor Park and Seaport Village, followed by a fun-filled afternoon at Mission Beach for lunch and swimming, and ended the day with an unforgettable farewell dinner cruise along the stunning San Diego Harbor.

On the final day, before departing for the airport, the choir enjoyed an exchange with the singers from Mira Mesa High School capping off a perfect tour.

04/20/2024

The Irondale High School choir continued their Southern California tour with a day at Disney, including a performance on the main stage at California Adventure.

After a day at Disney, the Irondale High School choir headed south to San Diego, stopping at La Jolla Cove and participating in an incredible clinic with Dr. A***n Khaefi at San Diego State University.

The day was capped off with shopping time at Old Town and an authentic Mexican dinner at Cafe Coyote.

04/17/2024

Oak Mountain High School's marching band kicked off their recent tour with the parade at Magic Kingdom down Main Street. Basking in the sunshine of flawless Florida weather, they also explored the wonders of EPCOT and enjoyed the cinematic delights of Hollywood Studios!

04/17/2024

The St. Agnes School Band enjoyed an unforgettable experience in New Orleans! They showcased their talent at the historic St. Louis Cathedral, explored the mystical bayou and rich history of the Whitney Plantation, and delved into the vibrant culture at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Additionally, they fostered cultural exchange through interactions with local high school students and received expert guidance at a clinic hosted by Loyola University. Amidst it all, they savored the charm of the city riding the iconic St. Charles Streetcar and engaged in epic beignet battles along the way!

04/17/2024

Lee's Summit had a blast in Orlando! They dazzled in the Magic Kingdom Parade and took part in the Universal Stars Program, lending their talents to record music, voices, and sound effects for a scene from the beloved Despicable Me movie!

04/16/2024

A spontaneous performance by Johnston High School Choir at Millennium Park captured the essence of their trip, showcasing their passion for music against the backdrop of vibrant Chicago!

04/16/2024

What an incredible trip to Chicago filled with unforgettable moments for Johnston High School Choir! The mesmerizing night skyline of Chicago, cheering on the Cubs at Wrigley, Jersey Boys at Mercury Theater, a Field Museum performance and clinic with Mary Hopper of Wheaton College, and indulging in deep dish pizza… thank you Chicago for a grand time!

04/14/2024

The Irondale High School choir began their California adventure with a trip to Hollywood and Highland for lunch, time at the Griffith Observatory to take amazing photographs of the skyline and Hollywood sign, and then ended their day with dinner at the Farmers’ Market.

Day 2 started with a performance at the Getty Museum with time to explore its artwork and beautiful gardens, followed by a visit to the Grammy Museum, a downtown LA walking tour, and dinner at Grand Central Market.

04/09/2024

Steilacoom High School explored LA, diving into the magic of Disneyland and the thrills of Universal Studios Hollywood! Plus, the choir and band had an amazing time at Disney Imaginary Campus workshops!

04/09/2024

Morgan County concluded their tour with a visit to Busch Gardens yesterday! Their trip was filled with fun and excitement as they explored the wonders of Magic Kingdom, experienced the magic of Hollywood Studios, and basked in the sun at Clearwater Beach!

04/09/2024

Edina High School Choir returned home safe and sound last night after a fantastic 5 days in the City of Angels. The city where people from all walks of life come together to make their dreams a reality. The students stepped into the “Hollywood” life for a few days and fit right in. It was a wonderful tour for all!

04/08/2024

Lees Summit North HS Band, Choir & Orchestra conquered so many great places in California in their 5day/4nights - Newport Beach & Dinner Cruise, Griffith Observatory, De La Nonna, Hollywood Movie Tour, Farmers Market & The Grove, LA Phil at Disney Concert Hall, Disney workshops for Orchestra & Choir, Disney parade for Marching Band and a fun day at Universal Studios