Trivial Pursuit

The students are visiting the country music capital of the U.S., Nashville, Tenn., from March 24 to 27. About 38 students are planning to attend and the students have been fundraising throughout the year to assist with the cost of going, which is about $630 a student, said Alyssa Napolitano, director of choirs.

The last fundraiser before the trip will be a Trivia Night at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, in the Morris High main gym. Teams of six, ages 14 and up, are invited to play. It's $10 a player.

"Without fundraising, there are students who would not be able to go, so I try to create an equal opportunity for them," said Napolitano. "All who want to go should be able to. I'd never want finances to keep them from this opportunity."

"This is going to be something they will always look back on," she said.

The choir has not taken a trip for several years and Napolitano wanted to start the trips again every other year for the choir students. The band takes a trip every other year and the choir and band would travel opposite years.

"It's a good opportunity for students, not only to experience a new area, but for the music in that area," she said.

The students will perform for the choir director at Vanderbilt University and will do an outdoor performance at the historic Belle Meade Plantation. They will also tour through recording studios, see a performance at the Grand Ole Opry, and visit the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

"I've traveled to a lot of places, but not to the southern states, so I'm excited to be going to Nashville and to go to the Country Music Hall of Fame," said Maren Bashor, freshman in the choir.

Sophomore Alexa Thorson is looking forward to spending time with the choir members outside of school and getting to know them better, she said.