Alumni, friends and more invited to join the Maryville College Concert Choir Companion Tour of Scotland in 2027
April 9, 2026
Every four years, the Maryville College Concert Choir embarks on a tour across Scotland, giving all 40 members the chance to take part in an exceptional educational and cultural experience. An integral part of that is getting to tour with Director of Choral Activities Stacey Wilner, who will lead this one last tour before her retirement in May of 2027.
“As someone who is in their first job in the field of education after college, I am extremely fortunate that I get to work under Stacey; someone who is at the peak of their knowledge, wisdom and skills gained throughout her career, and is willing to take me under her wing and treat me as a colleague rather than an assistant,” Choral Assistant Jacob Parauka said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher, musician and person to learn from, and we’ll all be pouring extra love and care into the upcoming year to make it as special as can be for her.”
And special this tour will be, with performances in locations such as St. Columba monastery, which was founded in 563 AD and served as a pivotal space for Celtic worship. The choir will also offer a joint performance with St. Salvatore’s Choir for a service at Ness Bank Church, and will perform in St. Giles’ Cathedral, one of only three cathedrals in Edinburgh, Scotland. The student singers will take a masterclass with Paul Phoenix, a former member of the King’s Singers and two-time Grammy award winner, before enjoying a farewell dinner.
However, it’s not just the choir tour that gets to travel to these remarkable locations — there’s an opportunity for both alumni and community singers to perform with the choir in Scotland as part of the official Companion Tour.
“During the tour, there will be opportunities for both alumni and community singers to perform with the choir, so we hope alumni will want to join us on this adventure,” Wilner said. “Katie Wagner Philips ’03 is assisting Perform-International with the companion community tour. Director of Alumni Relations Jennifer Phillips Triplett ’07 is assisting with connecting with alumni.”
For those interested in touring with the choir, there will be an interest meeting at 6 p.m. on April 28 in the Harry H. Harter Choral Rehearsal Room, located in the Clayton Center for the Arts. At the meeting, participants will learn of tentative travel dates and about itinerary highlights, information about performance opportunities and the repertoire, cost details, travel logistics and more.
According to Wilner, the student tour will include members of the Fine Arts faculty and staff, in addition to the students from the Concert Choir. The companion tour, hosted by Perform-International, is open to college faculty and staff, alumni, parents and community members.
“There is an old saying, ‘The more, the merrier,’ which applies perfectly to this situation,” Wilner said. “We are able to share our music, learning and cultural experiences with others, creating an enrichment that is seldom experienced during the typical international travel experience. The choir students will learn both musically and socially from the more experienced travelers accompanying us, while members of the companion tour will have their experience enhanced by the youthful enthusiasm of the choir members.”
Wilner says an international choir tour to Scotland carries a uniquely powerful meaning for a choir from a Presbyterian-related college, because Scotland is essentially the historical heart of Presbyterianism. According to her, early Presbyterian settlers had a particularly strong and lasting influence on East Tennessee, and that influence connects directly to the region’s role in early American history, education and culture.
“International travel itself is so important because the experience exposes students to different languages, customs and values,” Wilner said. “Instead of learning about history and cultures in a classroom, the students experience them — developing empathy, adaptability and respect for differences.
“Touring, whether domestic or international, also facilitates artistic growth. Performing in new environments — different acoustics, audiences and traditions — pushes singers to become more flexible and expressive. They refine their listening skills, learn to adjust tone and blend and gain confidence by performing in unfamiliar settings.”
Throughout her 27-year-long career at Maryville College, Wilner has provided the Concert Choir with numerous once-in-a-lifetime experiences through concerts and tours, in addition to the annual Choir Companion Tour, a tradition she hopes continues after her retirement.
“It is my sincere hope that bringing together people from different walks of life in this shared musical journey will help ensure that the Concert Choir remains philosophically grounded as a touring ensemble and international performance travel remains a lasting and meaningful opportunity for future generations of MC music students,” she said.
The April 28 interest meeting will provide additional details for those who may wish to join the companion tour. For more information, contact Philips at katie.philips@maryvillecollege.edu, or email scotlandchoirtour@maryvillecollege.edu.
— Written by McKenna Marr ’28