T+ 2 days and counting.
Sorry I didn't update my blog last night. I was tired. Very tired. We had 6 hours of rehearsal yesterday. I have some mixed feelings about yesterday...It was really fun to be able to start having sectional rehearsals, and we also had some full band rehearsals. The rehearsals didn't go as well as planned, unfortunately, because barely anyone had looked at their music in advance. It was so frustrating,because having actually studied my music before I came to the college. We spent a ridiculous amount making stupid corrections to individual sections instead of being able to run most of our 11 pieces straight through. We then met out chaperones and parents that are going on the trip with us. After that, we had dinner at the dining hall. Even though we were supposed to have a pizza party social event thing, Frank, Mackenzie, Mike, Jon, and Cameron, and I went out to to this open field and played frisbee for at least an hour or so. We all went back into the dorm and went up a little commons room and hung out and took pictures of each other and creeped on other people until we had to go to our rooms. Mackenzie is the coolest person I've ever met in my whole entire life. That's how awesome she is. We're going to be best friends for life.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Saturday, June 29, 2013
SOA Commencement
T+ 1 Day and counting.
This marks the end of my first day of Sound of America. I started check-in at about 2:30, took several trips to my dorm room to get things toted and unpacked, and then engaged of a night full of fun and laughs. After meeting my roommate who is a percussionist from California, went to the dining hall and ate my first dinner on campus. I sat by myself for the first part of the meal, but then began talking to several chaperones that each have been with the group for four years. One actually went to school with my Great Uncle! The other was a Gifted Ed teacher for many years, and we had lots of interesting conversations between the three of us. I then went down into the commons room and started talking with a group of about three other Honor Band kids which played the Trumpet, Bass Clarinet, and Clarinet. They were a really neat group of people, and we shared lots of laughs. I then played some "Around the World" ping-pong. You have like 6-8 people with a paddle and after each person hits the ball, the whole group rotates and the next person hits it. Make a mistake, and you're out. I was runner-up in the first round of competition, but then I sat the next few rounds out because the commons area was rather uncomfortably hot. Later, the staff had a "Hoagie Social" scheduled, where we ate sandwiches and talked. I was originally going to sit with the same group that I talked with in the commons area, but I decided to branch out and sit at a table that I knew nobody, so I got to learn all of their names. All in all, I met about 12 different people today. I feel pretty good about that, since I usually am very hesitant about just going up and talking to people that I don't know. I'm really excited to start tomorrow, which is the first full day here at Elizabethtown College, and additionally the first day that we begin rehearsing for our performances. It's getting late, and I've had a really busy day, so I'm going to go ahead and wrap things up and head to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a very rigorous rehearsal day, but still greatly enjoyable.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Surprise 16th Birthday/Bon Voyage Party!
As I was coming back from a friend's house, I was extremely surprised to find a bunch of my friends waiting there for my surprise party! I had such a great time, and really appreciated everyone coming to celebrate. I'm so happy to have so many awesome friends that are happy to see my travel to Europe!
The cake that they got me said "Bon Voyage - 16th in Paris", and then they had cutouts of each of the 6 country's flags that I will be visiting. I have such a fantastic group of supporting friends and family!
The cake that they got me said "Bon Voyage - 16th in Paris", and then they had cutouts of each of the 6 country's flags that I will be visiting. I have such a fantastic group of supporting friends and family!
Friday, June 14, 2013
Good News!
Today, I received my music packet containing all the pieces we will play throughout the tour. Along with the music was the chair placement results. Which I very excitingly received the position of First Bassoon! I'm am extremely overjoyed and thankful for this placement. I am already working hard to study all my music and be sure I'm thoroughly prepared to begin rehearsal at Elizabethtown, along with making sure all my suitcases, bags, and instrument items are packed prior to our departure. This is a little bit stressful, but my mom's great at helping me out with my packing, so I should be fine!
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Itinerary
One
month left until the official start of the Tour! I'm getting really excited,
and so I decided to post the current schedule of our trip! Here it is!
June 29 - ELIZABETHTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
June 29 - ELIZABETHTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
This afternoon, I
will arrive on the beautiful and historic campus of Elizabethtown College.
June
30, July 1-3 - ELIZABETHTOWN, PA
These next four days will be spent in intensive rehearsal and tour orientation, as well as concerts for the public. Two Bon Voyage Concerts, held in the college's beautiful auditorium, are performed before full-house audiences on July 3rd.
July 4 - ELIZABETHTOWN - NEW YORK
I depart Elizabethtown and travel by bus to JFK Airport in New York for my transatlantic flight aboard the largest passenger airliner in existence, the Airbus A380, on our overnight flight to Europe.
July 5 - FRANKFURT - ROTHENBURG
Guten Morgen! This morning, my plane touches down in Frankfurt, Germany. I will board the private coaches and travel to the medieval town of Rothenburg, completely surrounded by ramparts. When entering the town, you step back into the 16th Century.
July 6 - ROTHENBURG
Rothenburg is a small fairytale town complete with cobble-stone streets and tall gabled houses. I can visit the small shops, museums, or explore the ramparts and watchtowers that surround this enchanting town. I can tour the town in a horse-drawn wagon. A concert is planned for tonight. This evening, after the concert, I may visit one of the quaint cafes where and sample some delicious Bavarian pastries.
July 7 - ROTHENBURG - NEUSCHWANSTEIN - INNSBRUCK
This morning, we will travel to the Bavarian Alps to visit one of the most beautiful and famous castles in the world, Neuschwanstein, built by King Ludwig II. After a guided tour of the castle, we'll travel to Austria's Tyrol region where we'll enjoy a delightful presentation of yodeling and dancing at a special "Tyrolean Evening" performance.
July 8 - INNSBRUCK - CORTINA D'AMPEZZO
This morning, we will enjoy visiting this charming two-time Olympic-host city. I will shop in Innsbruck, visit the golden roof, climb the nearby tower for a great view and enjoy lunch in the pedestrian area. We continue on a scenic drive which takes us to Cortina d'Ampezzo, another Olympic-host city. This nortnern Italian town is nestled in amongst the unusual Dolomite mountains. Concert planned tonight in Cortina's new concert hall.
July 9 - CORTINA - VENICE
This morning is free for me to explore beautiful Cortina, used in the filming of the James Bond movie, "For Your Eyes Only." Later in the afternoon, we'll continue our journey south through the mountains to beautiful Venice, once the sea trading center of the world. Many famous artists and musicians, as well as the explorer Marco Polo, lived in this fascinating city. After dinner, we'll take our private vaporetto (boat) into town to experience the magic of Venice in the evening - complete with dueling orchestras on the main square.
July 10 - VENICE
I start this morning with a private vaporetto boat ride into the heart of Venice. The guided sight-seeing tour is on foot since no traffic on wheels is permitted in Venice. Our tour guide will explain and show us the history of Venice through the St. Mark's Basilica, the Doges Palace and Bridge of Sighs. The tour concludes at the Murano Glass Factory where we can watch craftsmen fashion their delicate Venetian glass. We will have free time to go up the Campanile tower, or visit a museum, go to the Rialto Bridge to view the Grand Canal. A gondola ride through the winding canals would be a perfect way to end our visit to Venice.
July 11 - VENICE - VERONA - STRESA
The first stop today is in Verona, the setting for Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," where we can see the famous balcony of Juliet. We will also visit the well-preserved Verona Coliseum, the world's third-largest Roman Coliseum where major operas are still presented each summer. This town has a rich history, and we will see that throughout the visit. After lunch, we continue through Italy to Stresa, a lovely Italian resort located directly on Lake Maggiore. Beautiful flowers, palm trees, mountains, water and fancy buildings all await us.
July 12 - STRESA
Located in a panoramic and picturesque setting on the 40-mile long Lake Maggiore, Stresa is an internationally renowned Italian resort. Here, we can relax and swim today, or take a boat ride to one of the nearby Borromeo Islands to see the palace. An evening concert is planned. A capacity crowd, in fact, a standing-room only crowd always attends our evening concert in Stresa.
July 13 - STRESA - GRINDELWALD
A morning drive takes us around Lake Maggiore, through quaint towns and then over the scenic and thrilling St. Gotthard Mountain Pass. We'll stop on top of the pass to enjoy a picnic lunch by the mountain lake. We continue through the Sustenpass, with stunning views of the Swiss Alps to Grindelwald, a beautiful ski village located high in the mountains.
July 14 - GRINDELWALD
A relaxing day will be spent in this picturesque mountain village of Swiss chalets. We will have an opportunity to ride one of the longest cable car rides in the world to the top of the Alps. Upon reaching the top, I can hike along the many trails, sometimes covered with snow. Other opportunities include a train ride to the top of the Jungfraujoch - so high in the snow-covered mountains, you can't recognize anything! I may hike, ice skate or shop for watches, cuckoo clocks, music boxes and Swiss Army pocketknives. A concert is planned for tonight in the local concert hall, Kongress-Saal.
July 15 - GRINDELWALD - LA CHAUX DE FONDS
Today, after a leisurely morning in Grindelwald, we depart for La Chaux-de-Fonds, where SOA will present a performance in the town's magnificient concert hall, Musica Theatre, this evening. This town is the heart of the watch-making center of Switzerland.
July 16 - Fontainebleau
We will perform in the main church (St. Louis) of this very pleasant town, known for its famous royal chateau.
July 17 (Which is my Birthday!!!) - PARIS
The Honor Band will have its performance in the Parisian Luxembourg Gardens. After lunch, the guided sight-seeing tour starts with Notre Dame and takes us from Place de la Concorde, up the grand avenue of the Champs Élysées, to the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Les Invalides, the Bastille square and finally the original Opéra, amonth other places. A combined performance for the Band and Choir is scheduled for this evening in one of Paris's largest churches.
July 18 - PARIS (optional visit to Versailles)
Today affords us the opportunity to visit the many famous sites of Paris, such as the Louvre Museum where you can view the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory and Venus de Milo, as well as works by Delacroix, David, Michaelangelo, Veronese, etc. Perhaps we would like to also visit Napoleon's Tomb and the military museum at Les Invalides or the impressionistic art museum, Musée d'Orsay. The Orsay museum holds works by Van Gogh, Manet, Renoir, Monet, Gauguin, etc. Or maybe we'd prefer to visit the famous Paris Opéra Garnier, setting for the "Phantom of the Opera", the beautiful church of Ste. Chapelle, or Paris's most visited cemetery, Père LaChaise where Chopin, Molière, Bizet, Jim Morrison, etc. are buried. Another option that will be offered is a guided tour of the Palace of Versailles. Tonight, all SOA members ascend to the top of the Eiffel Tower for an extraordinary view of the city.
July 19 - PARIS - LUXEMBOURG
This morning, we pass through the famous area of France known for its champagne. We will take a brief lunch here before continuing on to Luxembourg for an evening performance in Luxembourg's most prestigious concert hall. This concert hall is a treat to perform in, and the audience is always enthusiastic.
July 20 - LUXEMBOURG -FRANKFURT
We start today with a visit to the American Cemetery in Luxembourg, where we pay homage to the 5000 American soldiers buried there who died in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. Flowers will be placed at the grave of General George S. Patton. SOA always presents a ceremony to honor those who gave their lives. Selected students will participate in a flag retiring/raising ceremony, and flowers will be presented. After lunch and some time for sight seeing and shopping in the cosmopolitan, but friendly city of Luxembourg, we will continue to Frankfurt area where a special farewell party is planned for tonight.
July 21 - GERMANY - NEW YORK
Today, our buses transfer us to the airport for our flight home. I will be picked up by my Aunt in Elizabethtown, and I will spend one night in Pennsylvania. The next day, I will take an evening flight out of Baltimore/Washington International back to my home of Indianapolis.
These next four days will be spent in intensive rehearsal and tour orientation, as well as concerts for the public. Two Bon Voyage Concerts, held in the college's beautiful auditorium, are performed before full-house audiences on July 3rd.
July 4 - ELIZABETHTOWN - NEW YORK
I depart Elizabethtown and travel by bus to JFK Airport in New York for my transatlantic flight aboard the largest passenger airliner in existence, the Airbus A380, on our overnight flight to Europe.
July 5 - FRANKFURT - ROTHENBURG
Guten Morgen! This morning, my plane touches down in Frankfurt, Germany. I will board the private coaches and travel to the medieval town of Rothenburg, completely surrounded by ramparts. When entering the town, you step back into the 16th Century.
July 6 - ROTHENBURG
Rothenburg is a small fairytale town complete with cobble-stone streets and tall gabled houses. I can visit the small shops, museums, or explore the ramparts and watchtowers that surround this enchanting town. I can tour the town in a horse-drawn wagon. A concert is planned for tonight. This evening, after the concert, I may visit one of the quaint cafes where and sample some delicious Bavarian pastries.
July 7 - ROTHENBURG - NEUSCHWANSTEIN - INNSBRUCK
This morning, we will travel to the Bavarian Alps to visit one of the most beautiful and famous castles in the world, Neuschwanstein, built by King Ludwig II. After a guided tour of the castle, we'll travel to Austria's Tyrol region where we'll enjoy a delightful presentation of yodeling and dancing at a special "Tyrolean Evening" performance.
July 8 - INNSBRUCK - CORTINA D'AMPEZZO
This morning, we will enjoy visiting this charming two-time Olympic-host city. I will shop in Innsbruck, visit the golden roof, climb the nearby tower for a great view and enjoy lunch in the pedestrian area. We continue on a scenic drive which takes us to Cortina d'Ampezzo, another Olympic-host city. This nortnern Italian town is nestled in amongst the unusual Dolomite mountains. Concert planned tonight in Cortina's new concert hall.
July 9 - CORTINA - VENICE
This morning is free for me to explore beautiful Cortina, used in the filming of the James Bond movie, "For Your Eyes Only." Later in the afternoon, we'll continue our journey south through the mountains to beautiful Venice, once the sea trading center of the world. Many famous artists and musicians, as well as the explorer Marco Polo, lived in this fascinating city. After dinner, we'll take our private vaporetto (boat) into town to experience the magic of Venice in the evening - complete with dueling orchestras on the main square.
July 10 - VENICE
I start this morning with a private vaporetto boat ride into the heart of Venice. The guided sight-seeing tour is on foot since no traffic on wheels is permitted in Venice. Our tour guide will explain and show us the history of Venice through the St. Mark's Basilica, the Doges Palace and Bridge of Sighs. The tour concludes at the Murano Glass Factory where we can watch craftsmen fashion their delicate Venetian glass. We will have free time to go up the Campanile tower, or visit a museum, go to the Rialto Bridge to view the Grand Canal. A gondola ride through the winding canals would be a perfect way to end our visit to Venice.
July 11 - VENICE - VERONA - STRESA
The first stop today is in Verona, the setting for Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," where we can see the famous balcony of Juliet. We will also visit the well-preserved Verona Coliseum, the world's third-largest Roman Coliseum where major operas are still presented each summer. This town has a rich history, and we will see that throughout the visit. After lunch, we continue through Italy to Stresa, a lovely Italian resort located directly on Lake Maggiore. Beautiful flowers, palm trees, mountains, water and fancy buildings all await us.
July 12 - STRESA
Located in a panoramic and picturesque setting on the 40-mile long Lake Maggiore, Stresa is an internationally renowned Italian resort. Here, we can relax and swim today, or take a boat ride to one of the nearby Borromeo Islands to see the palace. An evening concert is planned. A capacity crowd, in fact, a standing-room only crowd always attends our evening concert in Stresa.
July 13 - STRESA - GRINDELWALD
A morning drive takes us around Lake Maggiore, through quaint towns and then over the scenic and thrilling St. Gotthard Mountain Pass. We'll stop on top of the pass to enjoy a picnic lunch by the mountain lake. We continue through the Sustenpass, with stunning views of the Swiss Alps to Grindelwald, a beautiful ski village located high in the mountains.
July 14 - GRINDELWALD
A relaxing day will be spent in this picturesque mountain village of Swiss chalets. We will have an opportunity to ride one of the longest cable car rides in the world to the top of the Alps. Upon reaching the top, I can hike along the many trails, sometimes covered with snow. Other opportunities include a train ride to the top of the Jungfraujoch - so high in the snow-covered mountains, you can't recognize anything! I may hike, ice skate or shop for watches, cuckoo clocks, music boxes and Swiss Army pocketknives. A concert is planned for tonight in the local concert hall, Kongress-Saal.
July 15 - GRINDELWALD - LA CHAUX DE FONDS
Today, after a leisurely morning in Grindelwald, we depart for La Chaux-de-Fonds, where SOA will present a performance in the town's magnificient concert hall, Musica Theatre, this evening. This town is the heart of the watch-making center of Switzerland.
July 16 - Fontainebleau
We will perform in the main church (St. Louis) of this very pleasant town, known for its famous royal chateau.
July 17 (Which is my Birthday!!!) - PARIS
The Honor Band will have its performance in the Parisian Luxembourg Gardens. After lunch, the guided sight-seeing tour starts with Notre Dame and takes us from Place de la Concorde, up the grand avenue of the Champs Élysées, to the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Les Invalides, the Bastille square and finally the original Opéra, amonth other places. A combined performance for the Band and Choir is scheduled for this evening in one of Paris's largest churches.
July 18 - PARIS (optional visit to Versailles)
Today affords us the opportunity to visit the many famous sites of Paris, such as the Louvre Museum where you can view the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory and Venus de Milo, as well as works by Delacroix, David, Michaelangelo, Veronese, etc. Perhaps we would like to also visit Napoleon's Tomb and the military museum at Les Invalides or the impressionistic art museum, Musée d'Orsay. The Orsay museum holds works by Van Gogh, Manet, Renoir, Monet, Gauguin, etc. Or maybe we'd prefer to visit the famous Paris Opéra Garnier, setting for the "Phantom of the Opera", the beautiful church of Ste. Chapelle, or Paris's most visited cemetery, Père LaChaise where Chopin, Molière, Bizet, Jim Morrison, etc. are buried. Another option that will be offered is a guided tour of the Palace of Versailles. Tonight, all SOA members ascend to the top of the Eiffel Tower for an extraordinary view of the city.
July 19 - PARIS - LUXEMBOURG
This morning, we pass through the famous area of France known for its champagne. We will take a brief lunch here before continuing on to Luxembourg for an evening performance in Luxembourg's most prestigious concert hall. This concert hall is a treat to perform in, and the audience is always enthusiastic.
July 20 - LUXEMBOURG -FRANKFURT
We start today with a visit to the American Cemetery in Luxembourg, where we pay homage to the 5000 American soldiers buried there who died in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. Flowers will be placed at the grave of General George S. Patton. SOA always presents a ceremony to honor those who gave their lives. Selected students will participate in a flag retiring/raising ceremony, and flowers will be presented. After lunch and some time for sight seeing and shopping in the cosmopolitan, but friendly city of Luxembourg, we will continue to Frankfurt area where a special farewell party is planned for tonight.
July 21 - GERMANY - NEW YORK
Today, our buses transfer us to the airport for our flight home. I will be picked up by my Aunt in Elizabethtown, and I will spend one night in Pennsylvania. The next day, I will take an evening flight out of Baltimore/Washington International back to my home of Indianapolis.
One Month!
The countdown has reached one month! We officially start the rehearsal in Elizabethtown, PA on June 29th. I'm getting really excited, getting final things worked out, and getting several last-minute sponsorship money. This is when everything is starting to get exciting, where everything is falling into place. I can't wait much longer!
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