LEBANON — Lunchtime at the Upper Valley Senior Center often involves musical performances, but the lyrics typically aren’t in Korean.

On Thursday, 17 alumni of Seoul National University High School, or SNUHS, in Seoul, South Korea, sang for volunteers and community members eating lunch at the senior center on Campbell Street in Lebanon.

The alumni, ranging in age from 72 to 85, traveled from 12 states and Canada to reunite at the New London home of SNUHS alum Ihn Jae Gilbert and her husband, Robert.

“We spent the whole night rehearsing in Ihn Jae’s house,” said Yung Kim, who graduated from SNUHS in 1969.

The group sang the South Korean national anthem, along with a traditional Korean folk song. They displayed their vocal versatility by performing Pete Seeger’s “Clementine” in Korean.

“The singers are very good,” said Lebanon resident Beverly Daigle, who turns 91 at the end of this month. “I can’t say enough good things about them.”

Henry Dessert, a 93-year-old Lebanon resident and Korean War veteran, said the singing was “good but hard to understand.”

The Gilberts, who eat lunch at the senior center and often use its transportation services, offered to bring the group with them to Lebanon this week to share a meal with Upper Valley residents.

“I did not expect the music, but it was really nice,” said Jill Vahey, director of the senior center.

The alumni’s four-day itinerary also included riding the Mount Washington Cog Railway, exploring the trails around Colby-Sawyer College in New London, and a visit to the Upper Valley Aquatic Center in White River Junction.

For most, it was their first time in New Hampshire.

“I never expected to visit here,” said Ryuh Hee Scalzo, who lives in New York. “I’ve dreamed of seeing the fall foliage.”

All of the alumni grew up in South Korea before immigrating to the U.S. or Canada. They’re part of the Seoul National University High School North American Alumni Association.

“We worked so hard as foreigners,” said Grace Kim, who now lives in Connecticut. “We set up our lives again.”

After eating hot dogs, coleslaw, baked beans and cornbread at the senior center, the alumni piled into four cars and headed to Dartmouth College.

Once on campus, 84-year-old Ihn Jae Gilbert led the way, gesturing for her friends to follow her into Dartmouth’s Rollins Chapel where organist Henry Danaher sat ready to play.

Danaher, musical director at Dartmouth’s Church of Christ, where Gilbert sings in the choir, agreed to do an informal recital for the visitors.

He played a few hymns while the alumni sang along. When he played “the wedding song” (“Bridal Chorus” by Richard Wagner) at Gilbert’s request, some of the alumni paired up and marched down the chapel’s aisle together.

“She’s just doing a great thing for her friends,” said Hanover resident Yong Shim, a friend of Gilbert’s who came to listen at the chapel.

“We are full of love and friendship,” Gilbert said. “Everyone is eager to be here together.”

On Friday, the group left the Upper Valley. They don’t know where or when their next reunion trip will be.

Emma Roth-Wells can be reached at erothwells@vnews.com or 603-727-3242.