Over spring break, the Grinnell Singers traveled on a six-day tour that took them through Minneapolis, Madison, Chicago, St. Louis, Davenport and Cave of the Mounds. The singers said that the tour wasn’t just about performing — it was also a chance for choir members to connect, share their music and form lasting bonds.Leading the charge was Regan Reedy `26, the choir’s tour manager, and Valeriya Woodard `25, the choir president, both of whom played key roles in planning the tour. The pair worked together to ensure the choir was ready for the tour, overcoming budgetary constraints and organizational challenges.
“We’ve been preparing for this since last fall,” said Reedy, who praised the choir’s dedication. “The hard work is all worth it when you get to perform and connect with new communities.”
Reedy worked closely with the Alumni Relations office to build a sustainable financial future for the choir since budgeting was an issue last year. A key achievement was the establishment of an endowment that would support future tours, ensuring that the choir could continue its travels without the financial hurdles they had faced in previous years.
“I really wanted to amplify and work on getting an endowment established for the singers,” said Reedy. “I felt like it was so silly not to maximize off of the endowment that Grinnell already has. Now we are identified as like an organization for Scarlet and Give Back Day, which is major. And we’re going to be able to connect with so many alumni from that which is really, really exciting.”
For Woodard, the focus was on fostering an inclusive and supportive environment within the choir. As president, she said she has shaped her role around creating a space where everyone feels welcomed, valued and motivated to work hard while also having fun. “The main goal is to do my best to foster a space where people feel welcomed and feel that they belong, as well as just a space of fun and creativity,” Woodard said.
Both Woodard and Reedy played multiple roles in preparing for the tour, which included extra rehearsals and group check-ins. Woodard, who has served in various leadership roles, including co-president and second-year representative, worked with choir members to maintain a balance of hard work and fun, ensuring they stayed engaged and connected throughout the intense rehearsal process. “It’s about creating a space where people feel comfortable and motivated to do their best,” she explained.
The theme of the choir’s music for the tour was about finding light in darkness, which Woodard said resonated deeply with her.
“Spreading hope through music was really significant to us,” Woodard said.
One of the choir’s pieces was “This Love Between Us,” a seven-movement Hindustani composition by Reena Esmail, which explores themes of religion and unity. The final movement, in particular, spoke to the message of the tour –– that light transcends religious and cultural boundaries.
Woodard emphasized how meaningful it was to see the choir come together. “The sound we created in the later performances, especially in St. Louis and Davenport, were just beautiful,” she said. “I think the time outside of rehearsal and time on the bus together, and then our hotels created a bond.”
Woodard, who has been with the choir since her second year at Grinnell, found that the tour deepened the bonds within the group. “We really just came together,” she said.
For Reedy, the most rewarding part of the tour was working towards elevating Grinnell Singers as an ensemble and gaining more national outreach. “That’s why I really began working with … Alumni Relations and Marketing,” said Reedy. “Figuring out how we can start an endowment so that we can pay it forward and not have a budgeting problem in the future where we can connect with more of the world.”
Despite facing challenges, like some choir members being unable to join the tour, Woodard emphasized the importance of maintaining the community spirit in rehearsals. “Moving forward, I want to ensure that the people who didn’t go on tour still feel just as connected to the group,” she explained. “We’ve found our sound, and I’m really excited for the rest of the semester to make music with these people.”
