Ensemble Touring Blog

Author: Al

  • Just Across the Street

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    Al

    As the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra and Gustavus Jazz Lab Band’s international concert tour moved from Skopje to Bitola in Macedonia, the beauty of Macedonia became even more obvious. After spending two days in the smothering winter fog of Macedonia’s capitol city of Skopje, it was wonderful to move south and through one of the mountain ranges that…

  • First Impressions – Lasting Memories

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    Al

    Blog written by Bailey Hilgren On our long drive from Volos across the border on January 28, we were surprised with an announcement that our performance in the Skopje Opera House the next day was actually going to be broadcast live all throughout Macedonia. Further, the Macedonian pop star Laura Krliu was going to be…

  • A Thousand Words

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    Al

    It is wonderful to read the insights from the members of the 2016 Gustavus Department of Music concert tour. They see and hear so much more than I do at the same event. While there is so much to say about the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra and Gustavus Jazz Lab Band’s international concert tour in Greece…

  • Two Cups of Coffee

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    Al

    Blog by Joey Wiley ’16 Waking up at 5:30AM is definitely not ideal when home, but on tour, and specifically in Greece, the reward of this early wake up time is much greater than the cost of a couple cups of Greek coffee. As we started our journey from Patras to Volos, I was eager…

  • Gustavus Choir Performs at London’s Historic St. Paul’s Cathedral

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    Al

    As the first concert on its 2015 International Concert Tour, the Gustavus Choir and Conductor Gregory Aune performed as part of the Evensong service at London’s historic St. Paul’s Cathedral on Sunday, January 18. This performance is the first of 8 concerts the Choir will present in England, Wales and France during its 17-day concert…

  • Gustavus Choir Embarks on 2015 International Tour to Britain & France

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    Al

    With a touring tradition that dates back to its founding in 1933, the Gustavus Choir has built a legacy of integrating fine choral singing, music education and music appreciation into its programs and concert appearances on, and off, the campus. With this continuing history of excellence, built on its experience of international concert touring that…

  • Home Away From Home in Pomaz

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    Al

    While I’ve mentioned that the home stays in Pomaz/Budapest caused a little stress for the Gusties before the moment they met their host families, these photos from the morning we said our goodbyes and left Pomaz will better express the value of the experience. Some of the host “parents” were in the band at the…

  • All Good Things…..

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    Al

    As with all good things, after 16 days visiting and making music in the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Austria, it is time for the Gustavus Wind Orchestra to close the curtain on its 2014 European Concert Tour. As I write this, the members of the Gustavus Wind Orchestra are hiking or riding from the…

  • Sometimes a Tourist

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    Al

    The Gustavus Wind Orchestra’s second day in Hungary allowed for another amazing day on the 2014 concert tour. As promised, our great friends in Pomaz (outside Budapest) packed the auditorium at the music school for our concert. Every space in the auditorium was filled including standing room along the walls and the entire lobby. However,…

  • Hungary, We Have Returned!

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    Al

    On day 10 of the Gustavus Wind Orchestra’s 2014 concert tour in central Europe, we have arrived in Budapest, Hungary, and our time for home-stays on the tour. We arrived in Budapest to an assembled host of friends from the Pomaz Music School who have become our friends over 20 years. In 1994, the school…