Maren Carter ’27 and Christian Keller ’27 reflect on the Gettysburg College Choir’s 90th anniversary tour as an emotional, community-driven experience that strengthened tradition, leadership, and belonging while connecting past and present through the enduring power of music.
The Gettysburg College Choir’s 90th anniversary tour through the U.S. Northeast was more than a series of performances—it was a celebration of legacy, community, and the enduring power of music. Founded in 1935 by Parker B. Wagnild, the College Choir has been a signature choral ensemble for generations of Gettysburg students, touring nationally and internationally. Since 1998, the College Choir and campus vocal ensembles have been under the direction of Sunderman Conservatory of Music Prof. Robert Natter. Natter guided the choir through six performances across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C., culminating in a celebration and concert alongside alumni at Gettysburg on March 21.
For Maren Carter ’27 and Christian Keller ’27, co-managers of the College Choir, the experience carried added meaning. Carter, a psychology major from Ambler, Pennsylvania, and Keller, a music education major from Littlestown, Pennsylvania, helped guide the ensemble through a tour that reconnected students with a tradition nearly a century in the making.
For both, the tour was not only about where they traveled, but also what they became a part of.
What does it mean to be part of a 90-year choir tradition?
Maren Carter ’27: Being part of this tradition didn’t fully hit me until after the tour, especially at the alumni gathering. Hearing stories from people who had been part of the choir decades ago made me realize I’m now part of something so much bigger. We didn’t have a tour our first two years, so bringing that tradition back felt incredibly meaningful. I’m so grateful to now say I’ve experienced something that has meant so much to generations before us.
Christian Keller ’27: It was emotional. Performing for alumni and seeing how invested they still are in the choir showed me how deeply this experience stays with people. Looking out during concerts and seeing them singing along or even crying—it made it hard to get through performances sometimes. It really reinforced how important the choir is in people’s lives.
What were your most memorable moments from the tour?
MC: The first concert in Philadelphia was incredibly personal. It had been one year since my grandfather had passed away, and my entire family had come to the concert. At the same time, we were honoring the memory of choir alum James Lamb ’21. It was special to have my family and all the alumni there with us. I knew that this was so impactful to our community as a whole, and it spoke volumes about how we care for each other.
CK: One of the most powerful moments at every stop was inviting alumni to sing with us. When we performed “Beautiful Savior” together, you could see how much it meant to them. It made me reflect on my own time here and on how, one day, I’ll be in their place.
What stood out about the alumni celebration?
MC: At first, I was nervous talking with alumni from different generations, but that disappeared quickly. We already had something in common—choir—and that opened the door to many great conversations. Singing together during rehearsal was incredible. Hearing that many voices united really showed how powerful this tradition is.
CK: It was one of the most memorable days of my college experience. Meeting alumni who helped shape traditions we still carry today—like our teddy bear mascot—made everything feel connected across generations.
How has the College Choir shaped your experience at Gettysburg?
MC: Even though I’m not a music major, choir has been the most impactful part of my college experience. It’s taught me leadership in a completely different way and shown me that music will always be part of my life, even if it’s not my career.
CK: I grew up having a fondness for the College and the Gettysburg College Choir, and being this involved now has changed my lens even more. I have a much deeper love for the institution and the people in it, especially the alumni. Getting to meet them and hear their stories has made me commit more of myself to following in their footsteps.
What do you hope for the future of the Gettysburg College Choir?
MC: I hope the tour tradition continues, because it brought us so close as a group. More than that, I hope students, regardless of their major, feel welcome to find a place in music like I did.
CK: The motto of the Conservatory is that it is “a place to find your music.” I hope future students continue to discover that, just as we have, and carry the tradition forward.
Discover the place to find your music by applying to Gettysburg College.
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By Corey Jewart
Photos provided by Sofia Gutierrez ’26 and Derek Reed
Posted: 04/13/26