The Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble, Augustana’s treble ensemble, toured Illinois and the Pacific Northwest from March 20-23. For the 39-person choir, this tour offered an opportunity to master music through themes of peace and joy, and the chance to develop deeper relationships as performers and people.

The ensemble’s first performance on tour was a combined concert with Bel Canto, a treble choir from Jacobs High School, and Bella Voce, a treble choir from Dundee Middle School, in Huntley, IL. 

Michael Zemek, director of the Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble, said the “heart” of their concert, “Paper Crane” by J. Reese Norris, was a collaborative piece about a young victim of the Hiroshima bombing with lyrics such as “I will write peace on your wings.” All students joined in folding paper cranes and passing them out to audience members to illustrate the song’s message of peace. 

Zemek said that the performance also allowed vocalists of all ages to learn from each other’s passion and dedication.

“Just because we’re the collegiate singers doesn’t mean we’re better or don’t have the same intention as the youngest singer … collaborating is a great model for the younger students,” Zemek said. “Seeing themselves continue in music or understanding that you can do this your whole life, and there [are] always places to make music.” 

Jenny Lind found another collaborative moment through a workshop with composer Joan Szymko, who wrote “At the Spring Dawn,” a piece in their concert repertoire. Though the choir was technically performance-ready, Zemek said that Szymko brought more understanding and nuance to the piece. 

According to many ensemble members, performing familiar pieces in different contexts and with different vocalists or directors helped to enhance their understanding of the music. 

First-Year Iona Ory said the experience gave her the opportunity to think more deeply about the meaning of the choir’s repertoire.

“I think it’s easy to get into the technicalities of just wanting [the music] to sound good. Tour reminded me of how music can tell a story and get people thinking about things or kind of touch their heartstrings in a way that they might not even understand fully,” Ory said.

Though music was the central part of the tour, Ory and junior Makena Winkiel said they appreciated the choir’s free time for exploration and bonding just as much as performances.

In contrast to a tight rehearsal schedule on campus, the tour allowed choir members free days to explore Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington.

“Moments we got to spend together at the airport, on the plane, or getting dinner together … that’s not something that Jenny Lind really does. Getting the chance to bond like that and have those days really brought us together,” Winkiel said. “There was a moment where almost the entire choir was in the hot tub at a hotel together, and one of us joked about making Jenny Lind soup.” 

Whether making “Jenny Lind soup” or paper cranes, Jenny Lind’s 2026 tour was one to be remembered by many choir members, andOry said she believes its impact will last far beyond their initial performances.

“I’m really excited to see how [tour bonding] will build our sound for the rest of the year and even going into next year,” Ory said. “I think community is a really good foundation for that.”