Bloomington High School North Bands

Europe 2002

Europe Pictures

Europe Recap

Who would have believed it, six European countries in sixteen days! Yet, that is exactly what the Symphonic and Jazz Bands of Bloomington High School North did this past summer. We departed on the morning of June 30th with 74 students, fourteen adults, and three tour company representatives, and when we arrived in Paris the next morning, we were joined by a tour guide named Beaux and two bus drivers named Roger and Bruno. What follows is a very brief synopsis (believe it or not, there is much, much more!) of this fun, amazing, adventure-filled journey........

Paris was our first stop. We visited and toured the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Palace of Versailles, Luxembourg Gardens, the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Musee d'Orsay, Sacre Coeur, and many other famous Paris landmarks. Having the opportunity to see Paris by night from the Seine River was magnificent. Two of the biggest highlights had to be the concerts by the symphonic and jazz bands in Luxembourg Gardens. Despite the chilly weather, the French audiences were very warm and receptive. Many great memories were made in Paris, not the least of which was the great French cuisine. Some of the best music we heard was on the amazing Paris subway system, the ``Metro''. We should have brought our instruments on the trains!

Our next stop was Dijon, France, where our casual hotel concert was given to a standing-room-only audience of one. The town itself was very charming and it was the only place where we were able to take a photo of all the students at the same time. Our ``concert'' turned out to be a great practice session for the Jazz Band and the relaxed feel encouraged many students to perform at a level that surpassed even the North Band's highest standards.

From there, it was on to Lucerne, Switzerland, where many of us hastily exchanged our Euros for Swiss francs. Lucerne is a beautiful town and the Jazz Band concert at the lakeside band shell and the Symphonic Band concert at the downtown Kornmarket were well received. The Jazz Band concert presented us with yet another realization of how different things are in Europe. The concert started late, while Beaux frantically searched for an adapter so that our amps would work with the European electrical current.

We then went on to Venice and had an incredible meal in an authentic Italian restaurant. We were serenaded during dinner, and although it was raining cats and dogs outside and we were soaked from our run through the alleys of Venice, we had a fabulous time. It was a wonderful evening and a great way for Ben Padgett to celebrate his birthday.

The next day, the weather cleared and we had a wonderful time in Venice. The Doge's Palace was grand, and to actually stand among the pigeons in the Plaza Di San Marco was something we will never forget. Whether we explored the alleys of Venice, toured the Cathedral, or went to the beautiful beach at Lido, the day was truly memorable.

On our trip out of Venice, a small group of us were dropped off at Verona, Italy, to see a four-hour outdoor production of ``Aida''. The rest of the group went on to the town of Trento. As a member of the opera group, I can report that ``Aida'' was amazing. To be in a coliseum over 2,000 years old and to imagine what had taken place there in past centuries was just mind-blowing! In addition, you just haven't lived until you've seen Romeo and Juliet's balcony at 1:30 am, or eaten fresh Italian pizza outside in a park at 2:30 am, or tried sleeping in an Italian park and then in an Italian train station.....

After a one-hour early morning train ride, we rejoined the Trento group and proceeded to Schladming, Austria. Who could forget Elliot T eh's rendition of ``The Hills Are Alive....'' And who will ever forget the gorgeous mountain scenery..... Our proprietors at the hotel were among the nicest people we'd encountered and they treated us like family. That first night's dinner, the breakfasts, and the final farewell barbecue added extra pounds to all of us. The town itself is absolutely charming, and again, the Symphonic Band was well received at the outdoor concert. The afternoon/ evening trip to Salzburg was another highlight of the trip. Although Mozart's home was not terribly inspiring, the city's architecture, the shopping, and the food were wonderful. And, who would have thought that ``American Pie'' could ever sound as good as it did when sung in the center of town by several members of the band and a local performing group!

At Schladming, the main event was the Mid-Europe Conference concert, where our Symphonic Band was conducted by composer Alfred Reed and by IU Professor Ray Cramer. It was a very well-played and well-received performance. Who will forget Keegan White's beautiful rendition of ``Ballade'', or Tierney Brown's twirling, or ``Bugler's Holiday'' featuring trumpet soloists Charlie Conrad from Indianapolis, Janis Stockhouse, and James DeCaro? The final barbecue was attended not only by our band group, but also by the Cramers, the Reeds, and former IU Professor of saxophone, Eugene Rousseau and his wife.

Now on to Germany, where we made the most of our time by visiting Dachau, a very sobering experience, and Rothenburg, with its incredible city wall and the Christmas Shop to beat all Christmas shops. After an overnight in Wurzburg, we traveled next via a gorgeous Rhine River cruise to St. Goar, where we continued on by bus to Bonn and a tour of Beethoven's home. Our Germany travels concluded with a tour of the beautiful gothic cathedral in Cologne and on to Duisberg for the night.

The final part of our journey took us to our final destination, The Netherlands. Our hotel was in Rotterdam and we were able to spend a good amount of time touring nearby Amsterdam via canal boat, as well as a walking tour. Some of us were able to visit the Anne Frank house and some of the fabulous art museums, including a wonderful historical instrument museum. The next day, we split into two groups. The ``non-jazzers'' took a sightseeing tour which included Delft and the coast, where unfortunately, the weather was not conducive to swimming or sunbathing. The Jazz Band, accompanied by several other student helpers and adults, experienced the culminating event of the trip, giving an incredible performance at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Congress Hall. The room was packed and it was an electrifying way to end the trip. Terri Lynn Carrington, our guest artist drummer, brought down the house. Arriving back at the hotel exhausted and very late, the concert and the entire jazz festival made the whole Europe trip worthwhile.

Although we were tired and had suitcases full of dirty laundry, and even though many of us were broke and had no minutes left on our phone cards (well, I think Ross Flint had some left!), there was a bittersweet feeling as we took off for Washington, DC the next morning. We had been on a journey that was like no other. We had made memories to last a lifetime. We had experiences in meeting and working with other people who were so different from us, and yet so alike. We had gained confidence in ourselves, because we really could order food in another language, or find our way around Venice and Paris with maps that made no sense. We once again discovered the joy and the universality of music, and that no matter how diverse we are, music touches each of us in a place and in a way that nothing else can.

A big thanks to all of you who supported this trip, from Dr. Coomer, to the MCCSC school board, to Principal Sarah Franklin, to all the parents and students. Another round of applause to MTC Travel, the chaperones, and most of all to Janis Stockhouse. Best wishes to all of you throughout this year and beyond.