Music Tour 2026: On the Road, On a Mission

Every spring, something magical happens at PAA. The music room empties out, two very full buses pull up, a trailer and truck are filled with instruments, and 77 students head out into the world to do what they've been practicing all year long: share their gifts.

This year's music tour brought all five ensembles together: Alegria, Band, Bell Canto, Choir, and PASO. From Portland to the San Francisco Bay Area, students performed at Rogue Valley Adventist Academy, Pacific Union College Preparatory Academy, Camino Seventh-day Adventist Church, and Three Sisters Adventist Christian School. At every stop, they weren't just performing: they were ministering.

At Pacific Union College, each ensemble had the chance to participate in workshops with college music professors that were tailored just for our students, a rare and stretching experience that pushed every musician to grow.

But it wasn't all rehearsals and performances. Students explored the beautiful PUC campus, burned off energy at a family fun center, and spent an unforgettable afternoon and evening at Doc's mother's home -  connecting, playing, and yes, roasting marshmallows. And because no California trip is complete without it, Pier 39 in San Francisco delivered all the views, the food, and the memories.

Throughout the tour, students led worship, sang, spoke and asked real questions of each other. That's PAA. Faith isn't an add-on, it's woven into everything.

Each student was part of a small group with real responsibilities, helping make the whole experience run. They worked. They played. They performed. They grew.

And none of it happens without the village. Dr. Carter meticulously plans every detail of this tour each year, creating space for students to perform, explore, and connect. Alongside him, PAA alumni, alumni parents, current parents, and staff show up as chaperones and helpers, many of them returning year after year because they love these kids and this school. It is truly a team effort, and we are so grateful.

This is what PAA looks like on the road. And it is beautiful.