Chasing Joy in the Big Easy: Ursinus College Singers Embark on First-Ever Choir Tour to New Orleans

New Orleans is a melting pot of culture from around the world. Well-known traditions like Mardi Gras and sweet delicacies such as beignets are just a few of the things that define the Crescent City. Music is another defining factor and it is deeply woven into the fabric of the city.

Over Spring Break, the Ursinus College Singers had the opportunity to experience everything the city has to offer when they ventured to New Orleans on their first-ever choir tour.

Led by Professor Nicole Snodgrass, M.M., the group traveled to the historically rich music city to perform, take in the sites, and collaborate with another collegiate choir.

“Travel is something that changes and influences you, especially when you’re immersed in a different culture and way of life outside of your own reality,” Snodgrass said. “New Orleans is a city so steeped in history, pride, and culture, and that mixture all culminates in music.”

New Orleans is widely considered the birthplace of jazz, and the city boasts a wide range of cultural traditions, from French to Creole. The environment provided the perfect backdrop for students to engage with and learn from the different cultures around them.

“The city is such a huge supporter of all types of music, not just jazz. It is a city that prides itself on that support,” Snodgrass said.

The group participated in two choir performances while in New Orleans; the first at the notable St. Louis Cathedral. Built in the 1700s, it stands as the oldest Catholic cathedral in continuous use in the United States.

“Something about the energy we were all bringing from being on the trip and performing in a new space with such great acoustics made it a very special experience,” recalled Susannah Cheezum ’27, a member of the Ursinus College Singers.

The group performed a piece of music by contemporary American composer Craig Hella Johnson called “I Love You/What a Wonderful World,” which takes the melody of a song called “I Love You” and layers it with Louis Armstrong’s famous “What a Wonderful World.”

“If you’re going to sing something as an homage to New Orleans, it has to be a piece by Louis Armstrong,” Snodgrass said.

The group also participated in a choral exchange with Loyola University New Orleans Chamber Singers. With its location in the Garden District, known for its beauty and the streetcar-style transportation that runs through the area, Loyola University served as the perfect backdrop for a musical collaboration. Both student groups performed for each other before getting to mingle and talk about all things music, college, and life.

“Obviously, we’re from different parts of the country, but we’re parallel in many ways, and we were able to appreciate what they were doing, and vice versa,” Cheezum said.

Outside of performances, the group enjoyed and explored the city. They attended group dinners and brunches, went on a riverboat cruise, and took in a jazz performance by the famous Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

“The togetherness and happiness we shared during this trip is something I’ll always carry with me,” Cheezum said. “A big part of it was just chasing joy and everything that comes with it. This trip allowed me to gain a lot more knowledge and respect for my peers and really brought a more familial feel to the group.”