Seventy members of the MCHS Concert Choir arrived in Chicago this month, ready to compete in the WorldStrides Heritage Festival, where schools across the country come to compete in instrumental and vocal music. Since the choir performed very well at the festival, they took home 3 gold plaques and 3 gold trophies. As well as the trophies, they were invited to perform at Carnegie Hall located in New York in the spring of 2027. Aside from the singing and competing, the choir also went sightseeing around the city, from The Bean and Field Museum to the top of the Willis Tower (formally Sears Tower). Senior Parker Teeter went along for the trip and took the following photos.
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The Willis Tower, formally known as the Sears Tower, is located in Chicago, IL. Taken heading north on the ramp between I-90 and I-290
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Standing at the base of the Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, and looking up, it stretches off into the sky. The tower began construction in August of 1970 and was completed in May of 1973, a little over two and a half years later. Measuring at 1,454 feet (1,730 feet including the antennas) and 110 stories, it stood as the tallest building in the world until 1998 when the Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia were completed. It was renamed from Sears Tower to Willis Tower in 2009
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Located 1,353 feet up on the 103rd floor, The Ledge is a very popular attraction in the Willis Tower, bringing 1.7 million people annually. The Ledge features four glass boxes extending four feet off the side of the tower, and was added in 2009.
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Located in Chicago’s Field Museum and named after its discoverer, Sue Hendrickson, Sue is the largest and most complete T. rex fossil. Sue was discovered in South Dakota on August 12th, 1990.
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Medieval times in Chicago. After the show, there was an awards ceremony for the WorldStrides Heritage Festivals for Choir, which the concert choir took part in earlier in the day. The concert choir took home three gold plaques and three gold trophies.
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The CIBC Theatre in Chicago, where the concert choir watched the musical Hamilton. The venue was built and opened in 1906 under the name Majestic Theatre, but was remodeled and reopened in 1945.
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Taken while walking west along the south side of W Randolph St and approaching the corner of N Franklin St in Chicago, the glass building that can be seen is 155 North Wacker and measures at 638 feet tall with 45-48 floors depending on counting methods. It was completed in 2009 and is a modern office skyscraper. It’s a symbol of sustainability, being considered a “green” office building due to its energy-efficient design prioritizing natural light and bike storage.
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Four members of the concert choir pose for a photo with a Shedd Aquarium employee. Left to right: Carson Pals, Zerik Nicholson, and Lukas Shipman, with Kameron Kasey being held.
![Bass Clef Choir members Zion Ondoma, Henry Hansen, and Zerik Nicholson harmonize vocals while singing "Prayer of the Children". “[It’s] a piece dealing with the Bosnian conflicts of the ‘90s,” said Associate Director of Choral Activities Matthew Jensen, “but is applicable to what's happening today all over the world.” The students will perform the song during Large Group Contests in Cedar Falls in May.](https://riverhawkpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260414_111618-1200x554.jpg)
