SEATTLE — The moment the first notes lifted into the vaulted air of St. James Cathedral, something shifted for the Ephrata High School Choir. The students had spent two days singing, learning, laughing and ferry‑hopping their way across the Puget Sound region – but this was the moment that stayed with them. 

“It kind of blew everybody’s mind,” Choir Director Tim O’Donnell said, recalling how overwhelmed his singers became in the cathedral’s soaring acoustics. “The kids are just so overwhelmed when they go there… you can’t cry and sing at the same time.” 

The cathedral's performance capped up a two‑day tour that blended music education with the kind of shared adventure that bonds young performers for years to come. 

Built on sound 

The trip began March 5 with a visit to Auburn Riverside High School, where the Tigers sang alongside three of the school’s choirs. For O’Donnell, the collaboration was long overdue. 

“He’s a director that I’ve known for many years… it’s been 12 or 14 years since I’ve been able to visit him,” he said. “Singing back and forth with one another is always a great experience for the kids.” 

From there, the choir traded risers for stadium tunnels during a behind‑the‑scenes tour of Lumen Field, exploring locker rooms, suites, press boxes and even stepping onto the field. 

That evening, they performed in St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral – one of the resonant, cathedral‑style spaces O’Donnell says are essential to understanding choral music. 

“A lot of the music we sing is written to be performed in spaces like that, and we don’t have spaces like that here in Ephrata,” he said. “It’s always really powerful for them.” 

Ferries and a masterclass 

Friday brought a ferry ride to Vashon Island, where the choir worked with renowned choral educator Rich Nace, whom O’Donnell described as “an awesome educator… a wonderful conductor.” 

Between rehearsals, students visited the island’s giant wooden troll sculpture and spent time on the beach – small moments that helped them unwind and connect. 

Those connections matter, O’Donnell emphasized. Music, he says, is relationship‑based. 

“Music making can’t happen unless the relationships are right,” he said. “The more I can build those relationships between the kids, the higher the ceiling of how well they sing together.” 

This year, the trip carried extra weight. The choir’s annual fall retreat was canceled due to wildfire conditions near Leavenworth, leaving students without their usual early‑year bonding experience. 

“This trip really solidified them as not just a great ensemble, but really close friends,” O’Donnell said. 

A resonating performance 

The tour concluded at St. James Cathedral on Capitol Hill, where the choir performed and received a demonstration of the cathedral’s massive pipe organ. The space, O’Donnell said, is always his favorite stop. 

Years ago, he recalled, he looked up mid‑song to find his bass section in tears—moved beyond words by the sound they were creating. 

“That’s what I’m going for,” he said. “To really reach into their hearts and do something.” 

Even without an audience, he said this year’s group sang well and took a meaningful step forward ahead of their spring performances. 

District support 

Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray said the tour reflects the district’s commitment to arts education. 

“The arts give students a place to find their voice and build confidence,” Murray said. “We believe a well-rounded education includes opportunities for creativity, collaboration and self-expression.” 

The district covers transportation costs for one major music tour each year, alternating between band and choir. 

The takeaways 

After two days of cathedrals, ferries, field tunnels and shared meals, O’Donnell said the difference in his students was unmistakable. 

“To hear them this week at school, they’re just so much better,” he said. “We always grow so much after a couple days of traveling like that.” 

The memories, he added, will last far longer than the trip itself. 

Upcoming choir performances:  

March 30
Ephrata High School Spring Choir Concert
EHS Performing Arts Center Gym
7-8:30 p.m. 

Ephrata Middle School Spring Concert
7-8:30 p.m. 

March 31 and April 1
EHS Large Group Choir Festival
Wenatchee
All Day

    Between rehearsals, students visited the island’s giant wooden troll sculpture and spent time on the beach – moments Choir Director Tim O’Donnell said are just as important as performing.