Students from around the Dwight network of schools came together on the Dwight London campus for our annual choral tradition.

After only a few days of rehearsal, students created a show-stopping night of performances on Tuesday, October 8. Dwight students from London, Seoul, Dubai, and Shanghai performed pieces on their own, with Dwight Seoul and Dwight Hanoi joining forces for Hanoi's first public music performance at a global Dwight event!

Then, there were multiple combined choral pieces, each conducted by a different Dwight London music instructor. 

Amongst the highlights was a performance from Shanghai, in which Austin Li ’25 produced a track live for his fellow choir members to sing along to. Austin had his tracks and samples set up in a "live workstation" on the stage, where he triggered various sounds and parts of his arrangement live, while the Shanghai choir sang along.

Each student from Seoul kept a daily journal for parents during their time in London — including a final reflection on the experience. Here are just a few students’ entries on the significant musical and personal impact of ChoirFest:

"ChoirFest allows us to explore our sparks of genius on a deeper level. Personally, making music with others makes me feel strongly connected to another person, so doing so on such a large scale with the other schools was amazing. I think it’s important to stay connected with our sister schools and make friends at other campuses because it reinforces a connection to people and cultures around the world in a way that feels more immediate. It develops our sense of global citizenship."

—Gianna Magliaro ’28

"I just loved soaking in the fact that I was in London, harmonizing, and sounding amazing with all of our voices together. I also enjoyed making new friends that I have been keeping in contact with, enjoying really good food with people, and seeing historical sights and popular places where I got to take pictures and make memories with my friends. The trip helped me grow musically and personally. I feel like it helped me be more patient, sing louder, control my breathing more, and learn how to be a part of a large group. It's an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience."

—Olivia Chae ’31

"It was interesting to see the different areas of London because London is very different from Korea. I liked singing as part of a big choir and working together with other Dwight Schools to create an amazing performance. This trip helped me overcome my fear of performing on stage and helped me become a better leader. It was a great experience meeting students from other Dwight Schools and talking about the differences between each school. Singing together with everyone, despite our differences, is very inspiring and uniting. This trip should happen again so we can meet more people and learn about their cultures and customs."

—Melissa Mayrink ’28