Student musicians and vocalists from Concord-Carlisle High School performed on stage at the Concord–Nanae Sister City Friendship Concert during their trip to Nanae, Japan, as part of a longstanding cultural exchange program. (Photo Courtesy Concord-Carlisle Regional School District)
CONCORD — In a large hall located half a world away in Japan, students from Concord-Carlisle High School let loose for a noisy night of karaoke, laughs and memories that will last a lifetime, capping off an amazing music-focused, cross-cultural adventure.
“The culminating karaoke night in Sapporo was a memorable and inclusive activity that brought everyone together,” said Concord-Carlisle High School teacher Nouna Pinto, a liaison for the cultural exchange program known as the Concord Nanae Network (CNN).
Superintendent Dr. Laurie Hunter, Co-Principal Brian Seth Miller and Co-Principal Katie Stahl are pleased to share that 60 student musicians from Concord-Carlisle High School recently traveled to Japan as part of a longstanding cultural exchange program connecting the Concord community with its sister city, Nanae, Japan.
The April trip marked the latest chapter in a relationship that has connected Concord and Nanae for nearly three decades through educational, cultural and musical exchanges.
Students from Concord-Carlisle High School participated in the trip alongside nine chaperones, including Co-Principal Stahl, Director of Bands and Orchestras Christopher Noce, Choral Director Sarah Grina, and CCHS-CNN Liaison Nouna Pinto, and other CCHS teachers and guidance counselors.
“Traveling with our students to Japan was an extraordinary experience,” said Co-Principal Stahl. “Our students represented Concord-Carlisle with tremendous maturity, curiosity and compassion throughout the trip. Whether they were performing music, engaging with host families or participating in cultural activities, our students embraced every experience wholeheartedly, forming lasting memories and meaningful connections.”
The trip, which traditionally takes place every four years, expanded this year to include chorus and orchestra students in addition to band students. The last large-scale performance trip to Japan took place in 2019.
The roots of the Concord–Nanae relationship date back to the late 1980s and early 1990s through exchanges involving students, educators, and community leaders from Concord and Hakodate, a major port city located at the southern tip of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island, where Nanae is located. Hokkaido and Massachusetts have been sister states since 1990. The relationship itself traces back to the 1870s, when scholars and educators from Massachusetts — including William Wheeler of Concord — helped found Hokkaido University. The sister-state agreement was formally signed to promote cooperation in industry, sports, science, culture, and education.
In 1993, a Nanae delegation visited Concord to discuss formally establishing a sister-city partnership, and in 1997 Concord Town Meeting voted to formalize the sister-city relationship with Nanae Town. That same year, a Concord delegation traveled to Nanae for the official signing ceremony of the Concord-Nanae sister-city agreement.
Since then, the relationship has grown through decades of exchanges involving schools, music ensembles, homestays and cultural visits. Concord-Carlisle High School students first traveled to Japan as part of a concert band trip in 1998, and annual or recurring exchanges between students and educators from both communities have continued ever since through the work of CNN, a volunteer organization established to oversee and strengthen the relationship.
“This international experience gives students the opportunity to become true global ambassadors through music, friendship and cultural understanding,” said Dr. Hunter. “We are incredibly proud of the maturity, kindness and enthusiasm our students demonstrated throughout the trip, and we are grateful to everyone who has helped sustain this extraordinary relationship between Concord and Nanae for so many years.”
The trip was divided into two phases, beginning in Sapporo (the capital of Hokkaido), where students explored local landmarks and participated in cultural workshops focused on taiko drumming and the traditions of the Ainu people, the Indigenous people of Hokkaido.
Students later traveled to Nanae and Hakodate, where many participated in homestays with Japanese host families. While in Nanae, students attended local schools, took part in cultural activities including tea ceremonies and soba-making, and performed in the Concord–Nanae Sister City Friendship Concert alongside students from Nanae schools.
“The focus of the trip was centered on music-performing ensembles, but the educational value extended far beyond performance,” said Director Noce. “Students learned flexibility, adaptability and how to connect with others across language and cultural barriers. Seeing students build genuine friendships through music was especially meaningful.”
The delegation also visited Goryokaku Park during cherry blossom season and participated in a karaoke night, which was considered one of the most fun, memorable group experiences of the trip.
According to organizers, 40 of the students stayed with host families during the Nanae portion of the visit, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in Japanese daily life and culture.
In addition to student-host family exchanges, which allow students to fully immerse themselves into Japanese daily life, the Concord-Nanae partnership has included collaborative classroom projects, teacher visits, concerts, cultural exhibits and homestay programs.
Throughout the years, students from Nanae have regularly visited Concord each fall through educational delegations and immersive cultural experiences with local host families.
Following the April trip to Nanae, representatives from travel agency Peak Group Travel praised Concord-Carlisle students and school staff for their professionalism, engagement and conduct throughout the tour. In a letter sent to district leadership, Senior Vice President of Operations Trisha Budlong wrote that Concord-Carlisle students were “unfailingly polite despite jet lag and being in unfamiliar settings and situations,” describing them as “outstanding ambassadors for their school and our country.”
Budlong also praised the leadership and preparation demonstrated by faculty chaperones throughout the international trip.
“These types of experiences are invaluable for students because they encourage young people to step outside their comfort zones, broaden their perspectives and develop meaningful relationships across cultures,” said Nouna Pinto. “We are fortunate to have such a longstanding friendship with Nanae. This trip helped cement that friendship and helped our students better recognize the importance of cultural awareness and global citizenship.”
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Students from Concord-Carlisle High School participated in cultural and educational exchanges during their visit to Nanae, Japan, as part of the Concord–Nanae Sister City program. (Photo Courtesy Concord-Carlisle Regional School District)
Concord students enjoyed a karaoke session in Japan, building on friendships and cultural connections through shared activities during the exchange program. (Photo Courtesy Concord-Carlisle Regional School District)
Students took part in a hands-on cooking demonstration in Japan, learning traditional techniques and ingredients during their visit to Nanae. (Photo Courtesy Concord-Carlisle Regional School District)
A group of students enjoyed a shared meal during their stay in Japan, experiencing local cuisine as part of the Concord–Nanae cultural exchange. (Photo Courtesy Concord-Carlisle Regional School District)
Students from Concord-Carlisle High School attended a potluck gathering during their trip to Nanae, Japan, as part of the Concord–Nanae Sister City exchange program, sharing a meal and building connections with host families and community members. (Photo Courtesy Concord-Carlisle Regional School District)
Concord-Carlisle High School students posed for a group photo at a community potluck event during their stay in Nanae, Japan. (Photo Courtesy Concord-Carlisle Regional School District)
Students shared time together during their visit to Nanae, Japan, enjoying informal moments of friendship and cultural exchange throughout the trip. (Photo Courtesy Concord-Carlisle Regional School District)
Students participated in a traditional Japanese drumming experience, engaging in a cultural activity during their sister city visit. (Photo Courtesy Concord-Carlisle Regional School District)
Students from Concord-Carlisle High School gathered for a group photo with their Japanese counterparts during their visit to Nanae, Japan, as part of the Concord–Nanae Sister City exchange program. (Photo Courtesy Concord-Carlisle Regional School District)