Singers from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater came to Berlin High School on their tour to perform for high schools across the state on Friday, March 20, 2026.
“We went to five schools, about two a day,” Oshkosh North alumna and UW-Whitewater Chamber and Vocal Jazz Singer Anna Adams said, “our tour was three days–about 48 hours on the road and actually performing.”
One of their stops was in Berlin, and 6-12 grade Choir Director, Abbe Lane, was very excited to see the performers after having a chat with one of the college’s directors.
“I actually didn’t invite them. I was at a conference last year in January, WCDA, Wisconsin Choral Directors Association. I was sitting in a session and learning about multicultural music, and the person sitting in front of me was Dr. Robert Gehrenbeck of UW-Whitewater, “ Lane said, “Long story short, he was like, ‘oh, Berlin, that would be so cool. If we got to talk about this piece in Berlin with Berlin High School students’. He sent me an email a couple weeks later asking about a time to perform during their spring break.”
The performance was thorough, encompassing all of third hour. Students had a wonderful time listening to the college performers right before heading off to their spring break.
“I thought it was super fun,” junior Gwendolyn Bruce-DeMuri said. “I thought it was cool to hear their chamber singers choir and their a cappella group that are, like, so put together and very skilled. I think that was very good for us to listen to.”
Lane had a lot more positive things to say about the performers and overall performance.
“I think it was very positive. I have only been hearing good things about the event, and I, for one, really, really enjoyed it,” Lane said. “I was even hearing from band students that they were really enjoying it. Some of my sixth graders even came after they were watching the group get set up, and they only had positive things to say. I think it’s just fun to do something different. We are always the one singing and performing, but for once, we get to just sit and watch and enjoy the music.”
Bruce-DeMuri loved the experience, and it showed her, as a future music major, what her life could be like as a student.
“I knew that I wanted to be a music major before that, but, yes, I did quite enjoy it, and that it gave me a peek into my future,” Bruce-DeMuri said, “Not that I’m necessarily going to Whitewater, but just what life could be like as a music major, which is cool.”
The positivity didn’t stop at just the students. Towards the end of the performance, students were prompted by Dr. Gehrenbeck to ask questions for the college students to answer. Adams didn’t hesitate to answer the student’s questions.
“Keep singing, and never stop working on your technique. Singing any style of music takes practice and hard work, and even when you become good at it,” Adams said. “There is never a point where improvement is not needed. Unlike math and science, there is no right way to do things. It’s what feels best for you. Take things at your own pace, own your own sound, and never give up.”
The growing love for choral music continues to grow every day for Berlin’s music students as more and more experiences and performers come to show Berlin just how music can grow.
“Students have no idea what college is going to be like until they get there, and I think that’s negative,” Lane said. “I think we need to show them more of what their experience is going to be like before they get there so they’re not scared out of their minds.”
