For 20 days in July, 10 students from Washington Township High School (WTHS) traveled to five countries as participants in the American Music Abroad Gold Tour program. Combined with fellow band, chorus and orchestra students from around the Mid-Atlantic region, students performed eight concerts in Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and France. The choir also performed several additional cathedral performances, most notably in the cities of Salzburg and Strasbourg.
The WTHS students who attended, fundraised completely on their own for this experience, as they proudly represented the WTHS VPA Department and the entire community on several international stages. The participants of this year’s tour included: Laina Boone (Class of 2028), Elijiah Colon (Class of 2026), Jeremy Engber (Class of 2026), Lillyana Jones (Class of 2027), Gianna Miller (Class of 2027), Alyson Moore (Class of 2028), Allison Reinherz (Class of 2027), Madison Slimm (Class of 2027), Milan Somerville (Class of 2029) and Brooklyn Sturm (Class of 2029).
All students and performances were enthusiastically received by hundreds of local Europeans and tourists. Students also learned how to adapt their performances to eight completely different indoor and outdoor venues.
Outside of the performances, students experienced guided cultural activities, interactive learning and hands-on exploration, while deepening their understanding of European history and the role of music in shaping cultural identity. By the end of the tour, participants returned home with strengthened musical skills, enhanced global awareness, and lifelong friendships formed through shared performances, exploration and reflection.
“We were very fortunate to have the opportunity to provide the AMA experience for our talented music students,” District Supervisor for Visual and Performing Arts and World Languages Casey Corigliano said. “Our district has had a long history of nominating students and having faculty participate on AMA tours, so we were very excited to bring that back this year. No doubt, our students that participated made memories that will last them a lifetime; literally opening up the world for them through the power of music, the only true international language.”
The WTHS Performing Arts department is planning to partner with AMA again for their 2027 Gold Tour. Students in grades 9 through 12 registered for band, chorus or orchestra classes will be invited to attend an informational meeting this fall. Interested students and families will receive specific information from their ensemble directors during the opening weeks of the 2026-27 school year.
Washington Township High School music students and American Music Abroad Gold Tour directors in Westendorf, Austria. From left to right: Front row, left to right – Jennifer Hodgson, Laina Boone, Gianna Miller, Allison Reinherz, Lillyana Jones, Elijah Colon; Back row, left to right – Jeremy Engber, Madison Slimm, Milan Somerville, Alyson Moore, Brooke Sturm, Keith Hodgson.
