Fountain Valley High School music teacher Kevin Tison has taught hundreds, if not thousands, of Vietnamese students during his 19 years at the school.
So, it was probably extra meaningful to him when he took his FVHS Troubadours music troupe on an international tour to the Philippines and Vietnam in June.
The trip began in Manila and Tagaytay, where the Troubadours performed joint concerts with local Filipino choirs, ranging from children, high school, and college age. The FVHS students also enjoyed music workshops with a few wellknown Filipino conductors and music composers, and they attended some performances by some local community and professional choirs.
For a quick escape, and to celebrate USA Independence Day, the group flew to El Nido, Palawan where they stayed in an ocean-front resort, enjoyed a special hamburger/ hot dog dinner by the beach with a special arranged fireworks show on July 4th.
After a day of island hopping to some of the most gorgeous islands, beaches and snorkeling reefs in the world, the group returned to Manila to continue their performances.
After finishing time in the Philippines, the group traveled to Hanoi, Vietnam to start their fast and comprehensive tour of Vietnam. They visited Hanoi, Hue and finishing up in Ho Chi Minh City.
The group performed several concerts, from street performances to being honored guests at Saigon University. They were the first American choir to ever perform there.
“The group truly built some wonderful relationships and bridges between the East and West.... through our shared love of music,” Tison said The group also visited the Imperial Citadel in Hue, Trang An (Ninh Binh province) and other local attractions and UNESCO sites across Vietnam.
Cathy Leo, a retired FVHS math teacher who has traveled with the Troubadours on three previous international trips, said the Southeast Asia trip was “amazing.”
“Performance International arranged every detail from luxurious hotels and delicious dining to eye-opening historical and cultural experiences in jaw-droppingly gorgeous settings via timely transportation on planes, buses, boats, and bicycles,” Leo said.
Madalyn Pham, a recent FVHS grad who was a member of the vocal music program, added, “The Vietnam and Philippines tour was life-changing for me. As someone who comes from a Vietnamese background, it was the most heart-warming feeling being able to create such wonderful music with my friends and beloved director in my home country.”
The next international tour is set for 2026, which will be Tison's final international tour with Troubadours before his retirement from FVHS. This tour will take the group to South America (Costa Rica, Peru, Argentina), marking a significant milestone with the Troubadours having performed on six continents during Kevin Tison's long tenure at FVHS.