PHS’s February trip was slated for Budapest, Vienna.
By: Jeff Milgram
They raised money from parents, sold poinsettias and worked at Terhune Orchard.
It isn’t any lack of effort that will keep the 86 members of the Princeton High School Choir home next month. It’s the threat of war with Iraq and unstable international affairs.
In the end, the decision to cancel the trip to Budapest and Vienna, scheduled for Feb. 15-22, came down to this: It’s better to be safe than sorry.
"It’s disappointing for all of us," said senior Annie Rorem, co-president of the choir, who went on the last choir trip to Russia and Germany in 2001. "I know that my friends who haven’t had a chance (to go on a choir tour) before are really disappointed."
The decision to cancel the tour was made Monday after choir director Charles Sundquist conferred with his associate director, Scott Dettra, Principal Sandra DeLuca and Superintendent Claire Sheff Kohn.
Mr. Sundquist spoke with members of the parent steering committee, who unanimously supported the decision to postpone the trip.
"The community at large and the parents have been worried about the trip," Mr. Sundquist said. He said he wanted a go or no-go decision, not a situation in which some parents would pull their children from the trip. "We didn’t want a divided group,’ he said.
"It was really a joint decision. I bear the ultimate responsibility. It’s always good when everyone agrees," Dr. Kohn said. "It’s a huge responsibility for a school district to take students on a trip. … We’re all in concert with this decision"
Mr. Sundquist broke the news to the students at noon Tuesday.
"He sat us down and he didn’t prolong it," said senior Laura Stewart, the choir’s secretary-treasurer. "There was no beating around the bush."
Tim Callahan, a senior who serves as the choir’s vice president, felt something was in the air, but didn’t know what it was. "I knew something was up," he said.
But not Laura. "I had no idea," she said.
"It was very, very crushing," Tim said.
"Crushing is the right word," Annie agreed.
"Given the world events, it’s the right thing to do," Ms. DeLuca said. "We are disappointed."
The choir has extensive experience performing both in this country and in Europe. Every other year, the choir tours Europe.
In 2001, the choir went to St. Petersburg, Russia and Berlin.
A 1999 tour of Germany took the choir to the cities associated with Johann Sebastian Bach: Eisenach, Weimar, Leipzig and Berlin.
In 1997, the choir performed in Moscow during the city’s 850th anniversary and in Yaroslavl and St. Petersburg.
In April 1995, the choir traveled to England and France, where it performed at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, Eglise de la St. Trinite in Paris, Chartres Cathedral, and in Princeton Borough’s sister city, Colmar, France.
The 1992 tour took the choir to Colmar and Ebersmunster in France and to Florence, Rome and Pettoranello Princeton Township’s sister city in Italy.
For some students, the choir tour is their first trip outside the country.
Senior Dave Jean, who went on the tour of Russia and Berlin as a sophomore, said the best thing about the trip was the exposure to other cultures.
"It really changed my perspective on the world," Laura said.
Annie said some students keep in touch with the families they stayed with on the tour. And, she said, while singing in the Princeton University Chapel which the choir does every Christmas season is a great experience, performing in a large auditorium in Europe is something special.
Also special is the PHS choral program, which is part of the school’s curriculum. "It’s curricular, not extracurricular," Ms. Sundquist said. "I see these kids every day."
For the tours, parents pay what they can afford. Every choir member goes on the trip and the students raise the necessary money. For this tour, the choir raised $158,000, Mr. Sundquist said. Contributors will be given the choice of getting the money back or applying it to the next trip.
The choir’s voices will not be stilled in February. The choir will hold what was going to be a homecoming concert on Feb. 24 in the Princeton University Chapel.

