Peace has no single sound. It is proclaimed in hope, sought in stillness, discovered in love, reflected in the natural world, and carried through stories that connect generations. Peace Has Many Voices brings together music by Mendelssohn, Vasks, Gjeilo, Kelly, and Walker in a journey from outward declaration to inward reflection, from community to stewardship, and finally to the enduring power of the human spirit. As ChoralVia travels from Stockholm to Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius, singers from different places and experiences unite in a shared musical purpose—not to sound the same, but to listen deeply and create harmony together.
FOUR COUNTRIES. ONE MUSICAL JOURNEY.
Stockholm, Sweden
Our journey begins in Stockholm, where singers gather for our first rehearsal and prepare the ensemble for the performances ahead.
We will experience one of Europe's most beautiful capitals while exploring its extraordinary history, architecture, museums, and musical culture.
PERFORMANCE
Tallinn, Estonia
From Stockholm, we travel across the Baltic Sea to Tallinn.
Its remarkably preserved medieval center, churches, cultural landmarks, and centuries of history make Tallinn one of Northern Europe's most distinctive cities.
Tallinn is our opportunity to explore and experience Estonia without the demands of a performance day.
RECITAL
Riga, Latvia
Our journey continues in Riga, a city with one of the world's great choral traditions.
Latvia's extraordinary singing culture makes Riga especially meaningful for this program—and performing the music of Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks in his homeland gives the journey a particularly powerful connection between repertoire and place.
PERFORMANCE
Vilnius, Lithuania
We conclude in Vilnius, whose historic center, churches, university, and layered cultural history provide a remarkable setting for the final days of the journey.
Our final performance brings the ensemble together one last time before we celebrate everything we have experienced and created.
PERFORMANCE
MESSENGERS OF PEACE
Music of Prayer, Community, Earth, and the Human Spirit
Don Scott Carpenter, conductor
TBA, soprano
William Raskin, baritone and narrator
PROLOGUE — A CALL TO PEACE
How Lovely Are the Messengers from St. Paul, Op. 36
Felix Mendelssohn
Mendelssohn opens the program with radiant energy, announcing peace as a message meant to be carried into the world.
I — A PRAYER FOR PEACE
Dona nobis pacem
Pēteris Vasks
The atmosphere turns inward as a simple plea—“Grant us peace”—grows from quiet contemplation to impassioned urgency.
II — WHERE LOVE DWELLS
Ubi Caritas
Ola Gjeilo
Warm and intimate, Gjeilo’s setting reminds us that peace begins in compassion, belonging, and the ways we care for one another.
III — OUR SHARED EARTH
The Colour of Earth
Nicholas Ryan Kelly
The journey expands outward, inviting us to consider the beauty of the natural world and our shared responsibility for its care.
IV — THE HUMAN SPIRIT
The Golden Harp
Gwyneth Walker
Texts by Rabindranath Tagore
Through Tagore’s poetry, Walker gathers light, sorrow, love, memory, and spiritual longing into a sweeping celebration of life and the human spirit.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Messengers of Peace traces a journey from proclamation to prayer, from love within a community to responsibility for the earth, and finally to the inner life of the human spirit. Mendelssohn announces peace with radiant assurance; Vasks transforms that declaration into an urgent plea; Gjeilo locates peace in compassion and shared belonging; Kelly widens the circle to embrace the natural world; and Walker gathers light, sorrow, love, and spiritual longing into a triumphant final affirmation.
Together, these works ask not only where peace may be found, but how each of us might carry it into the world.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
You don't need to belong to a large touring choir.
Europe 2027 is open to singers who are ready to prepare the repertoire and become part of the ChoralVia ensemble.
COME ON YOUR OWN
Individual singers are welcome. You do not need to be a member of one of the participating choruses.
BRING A GROUP
Invite several singers from your choir, church, school, or community to participate together.
BRING YOUR CHOIR
Choirs and choral programs may participate as a group while retaining their own organizational identity.
TRAVEL WITHOUT SINGING
Spouses, partners, family members, friends, and other non-singing companions are also welcome.
Everyone travels together. Singers become one ensemble.
THE MUSICAL EXPERIENCE
Participating singers should arrive with the repertoire fully prepared.
Practice resources and preparation information will be provided in advance where available. Singers associated with participating organizations may also have opportunities for rehearsals before departure.
Once in Europe, the full ChoralVia ensemble will rehearse together before the first performance, with additional rehearsal time incorporated into the journey as needed.
The goal is not simply to sing while traveling.
We are creating an excellent ensemble specifically for this journey.
THE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE
ChoralVia provides the artistic leadership for Europe 2027 and works directly with Music Celebrations International to coordinate the travel experience.
Professional arrangements include international and local transportation, hotels, sightseeing, guides, concert logistics, and tour management.
Participants may choose either a group air package from San Francisco or a land-only option and arrange their own international flights.
This makes the journey accessible to singers joining ChoralVia from throughout the United States and beyond.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Depending on the selected package, the tour includes:
International airfare from San Francisco for participants choosing the air-inclusive package
Deluxe motorcoach transportation during the tour
Hotel accommodations
Daily breakfast and selected additional meals
Professionally coordinated concert arrangements
Rehearsal and performance logistics
Guided sightseeing and excursions
Museum and attraction admissions included in the itinerary
Full-time professional tour management
Individual registration and payment processing through Music Celebrations International
Pre-departure travel information
MCI tour liability coverage
A complete itinerary and current package details will be provided during registration.
READY TO SING WITH US?
Your choir may be small. The opportunity doesn't have to be.
Join singers from different communities for eleven unforgettable days of music, performance, friendship, and discovery across Sweden and the Baltics.
March 9–19, 2027
Come as a choir. Come as a group. Come on your own.