Listen Here
By Pulse Staff
The University of Findlay Concert Chorale arrived in Europe to begin a choral festival tour the same day the United States joined Israel in attacks on Iran. The military activity is thousands of miles away from the concert tour.
“They made it safely and are preparing for their first performance,” Dr. Kirby Overton, dean of the College of Business and Humanities said via email with the Pulse Sunday morning, March 1. “They are safe and things are going smoothly.”
The UF group traveled approximately 4,400 miles to Ravenstein, Germany to begin its performance in the 2026 Choral Festival Concert Tour. The distance from Ravenstein to Tabriz, Iran is approximately 2,280 miles. Tabriz is an Iranian city bombed by the U.S. and Israeli attack closest to Ravenstein.
The bus with 60 people including roughly 10 to 15 non-university, community members on board, left campus around 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27 to catch the flight out of Detroit.
In the early morning hours of Saturday, Feb. 28, the President of the United States announced a joint operation with Israel called Operation Epic Fury saying Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program and plans to develop missiles to reach the U.S., according to the Associated Press.
The AP also reports Iran has struck back targeting American bases across the Middle East as well as other gulf states.
The AP also reports cybersecurity experts say Americans should be prepared for cyberattacks launched by Iran or its allies following U.S. strikes.
The U.S. State Department posts travel advisories online. In May 2025, it listed Germany under a level 2, which means exercise increased caution, out of four levels with Level 4 as “do not travel.” As of January this year, Czechia is listed under level 1 which means exercise normal precautions.
Brandi Laurita, vice president for student affairs and athletics, told the Pulse via email that both locations fall within the University’s travel policy for allowable travel.
“The University of Findlay (UF) Travel Policy determines to which countries UF-supported travel is restricted. It is the responsibility of all campus constituents to be aware of this policy and to stay up-to-date on the political, health, crime, and other safety-related conditions prevailing in the countries and specific areas in which they plan to travel.
UF’s travel policy is based upon the travel warnings provided by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs
During the trip, students will perform three concerts, beginning March 1 at Evangelische Kirche Merchingen in Ravenstein, Germany. The choir will then travel to Hradec Králové, Czechia, for a March 3 performance at the University of Hradec Králové before concluding the tour on March 4 at the Czech Museum of Music in Prague.
