While many students worked on their tans in Mexico or went snorkeling in Hawaii, the choir students of Prior Lake High School spent their spring break in New York City. Traveling as a group of over 80 students with eight teacher chaperones, the extra-circular ensemble met outside of school one night a week to practice their set of exclusively a cappella music. By Saturday, March 11, the students were prepared to sing at iconic New York City locations, such as the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and tour the island of Manhattan.

PLHS Choir Performance at St. John the Divine

The trip soon took an unexpected turn, however, when the city issued a severe winter storm watch for snow storm Stella early afternoon, March 14. Activities planned for the following day, such as visiting Ellis Island and participating in an school exchange concert with a nearby New Jersey high school, were wiped from the schedule. As the city braced for 12 to 24 inches of snow, businesses closed, transportation services shut down, and the choir hunkered down in their hotel for a day of rest.

Many students took the day off as an opportunity to sleep in. After several mornings starting at 7:00 am, kids slept in until 11:00 am, when pizza was delivered to the hotel for lunch. Decks of cards passed between hands and rooms, and the hotel lobby quickly became common place for competitive games of “Uno” between choir directors and students. The cabin fever, however, was not lost on the kids, especially as the promised blizzard failed to arrive.

After a dinner of Subway sandwiches in the hallways of the hotel, the choir students were given their freedom: two free hours in the city. Trips to the M&M and Disney store were popular destinations for some, while others opted to stay inside and pack for the choir’s departure the following afternoon.

While sitting in a hotel room during spring break isn’t anyone’s idea of a fun time, the choir students of Prior Lake High School hardly let it mar their experience as a whole. Mandy Lu, junior, describes signing at St. John the Divine as “truly the best experience ever,” while Ella Tenzer, junior, says that “The Hamilton songs at Ellen’s stardust diner made [her] day!” The only complaint comes from choir director Mr Hahn: “The Uno game. It was fun – even though I felt like I was unjustly targeted for Draw2 and Draw4 cards!”