Students from the Plymouth Public Schools in Massachusetts first traveled to the United Kingdom in July 2015 to serve as musical ambassadors as part of the Plymouth International Chorus (PIC) music education program, which aims to highlight the deep connection between the US and the UK while educating students about their diverse cultures and histories.
The first PIC concert took place on July 9th at the historic Plymouth Guildhall in Plymouth, UK. More than 500 attendees, including the Lord Mayor of Plymouth City Council, attended.
The Plymouth, Massachusetts portion of the PIC includes thirty-one students in grades five through seven representing eight of the Town’s public schools. The chorus is led by three dedicated educators from the Plymouth Public Schools Visual and Performing Arts Department: Karen Antonsen-Devoe, Kathy McMinn, and Jessica Fuller. The students were chosen after a competitive audition and application process, and have been rehearsing together on a weekly basis since February 2015.
The PIC project will continue through 2020, with new students participating each year and the location of the concerts alternating between the US and the UK. The final concert will take place in Plymouth, MA as part of the historic 2020 commemoration.
