Community Corner
A New Year, Many New Stages: North Reading Sixth Grader Sings with Choir in Ireland
Nine members of the Austin Prep Chamber Singers traveled to Ireland for a choral pilgrimage that blended music, faith, and reflection.
This story was contributed by Austin Prep, a Patch Community Partner. The views shared reflect the author’s perspective and feature real experiences from the Austin Prep community.
As the calendar turned to a new year, a group of Austin Prep students was an ocean away. During holiday break, nine members of the Austin Prep Chamber Singers traveled to Ireland for a choral pilgrimage that blended music, faith, and reflection, bringing their voices into sacred spaces shaped by centuries of history. The journey culminated in a lunchtime concert at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, where the choir sang beneath soaring stone arches as visitors and worshippers paused to listen.
A Sixth Grader Steps Onto an International Stage
For Lauren Bratton, a sixth grader from North Reading, the trip represented far more than international travel. It marked a series of firsts: singing on tour with a unified Middle and Upper School ensemble, and performing music in places where sound carries meaning beyond the notes themselves.
From the start, the experience felt significant. “I was like, ‘This is it. This is the start,’” Lauren said, recalling her first moments in Ireland.
According to Dr. Jessica McCormack, Director of Music at Austin Prep, the trip carried added significance for the ensemble itself. “This is the first time this group ever sang together publicly,” she said.
Singing Across Ireland, From Parish Churches to Sacred Landmarks
Over the course of the trip, Lauren sang nearly every day in churches across the country, moving from quieter parish settings and the chapel at Kylemore Abbey to larger, more imposing sacred spaces such as the Basilica of Our Lady of Knock. Each venue brought a different atmosphere and sound, shaping how the choir listened, blended, and responded to the space around them as they traveled together from place to place.
The Austin Prep Chamber Singers are part of a broader choral program that performs throughout the school year while also traveling on pilgrimage. Students sing a range of music, from contemporary selections to liturgical compositions, developing vocal technique through concerts and performances before bringing that work abroad.
In Ireland, Lauren quickly became aware of how dramatically acoustics could change from one space to the next. “It was really echoey,” she said.
Singing alongside older students was a meaningful part of the experience. “It was really cool to be singing with people older than you,” Lauren said. Performing with Middle and Upper School students challenged her to listen closely and blend her voice within the group. “I was amazed by how beautiful the churches were and how great our voices sounded together,” she said.
From Dr. McCormack’s perspective, Lauren handled the dynamic with ease. “She’s an outstanding musician,” she said. “She has a beautiful voice, great curiosity, asks very thoughtful questions, and is highly professional and flexible. Especially for someone of her age, her maturity is phenomenal.”
Of all the places the choir sang, one stood out most clearly. “Probably St. Patrick’s Cathedral,” Lauren said. “It was so big, and it was really beautiful.” The noontime concert marked the end of the trip, bringing together music that reflected the journey itself and offering a moment of stillness in the middle of a busy city.
Music, Family, and What Comes Next
Beyond the music, the trip carried personal meaning. Lauren traveled to Ireland with her father, whose family traces its roots to County Donegal, including her great-grandmother, who emigrated to the U.S. in the 1910s. “I’ve always wanted to go,” she said. “I am Irish, so it’s always been a dream of mine to go back to where my ancestors were.” Experiencing Ireland together transformed the pilgrimage into a shared family experience, deepening the connection between place, history, and memory.
Between performances, Lauren explored Ireland beyond the churches. She visited the Titanic Museum, Giant’s Causeway, the Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle, and the town of Killarney, which left a strong impression. “It was really pretty, with all the lights and the street musicians and the shops,” she said.
Asked how the experience changed her, Lauren reflected on its lasting impact. “Now that I know what Ireland looks like in the full experience, I’d definitely do it all over again if I had the chance,” she said.
That sense of possibility shapes how she looks ahead. After traveling to Ireland with her father, whose family is of Irish heritage, Lauren hopes to take part in the Austin Prep choir’s trip to Rome next year with her mother, whose family is of Italian heritage. Experiencing different parts of her family’s story through music has become part of how she imagines what comes next.
The stages Lauren stepped onto in Ireland marked a moment of growth that carried far beyond the final note. Back home, life quickly returned to its usual rhythm of school, practice, and homework. But the journey is not finished. Next year, she hopes it continues, proving that all roads lead to Rome.
Join the Arts at Austin Prep
Interested in learning more about the Austin Prep choir program and the travel experiences that accompany it? Explore Austin Prep Arts, including Music, or begin an inquiry to learn more.
