The Santa Rosa High School Band & Orchestra recently toured and performed in the cities of Xi’an (China’s ancient Capital) and Beijing as part of the American Celebration of Music in China concert series. During the tour, the ensembles performed ON the Great Wall, visited and performed in local schools, and in prestigious concert halls, visited a martial arts school, attended an acrobatic show and the Tang Dynasty Theatre, and were greeted with the same welcome ceremony in Xi’an that President Bill Clinton received when he visited this historic city. Here is what director Mark Wardlaw has said regarding the tour:

My head still is spinning from our recent trip to northern China, arranged by MCI . I took 93 instrumentalists from Santa Rosa High School (California) to this fascinating country. Our itinerary included the bustling, sprawling and rapidly changing city of Beijing and the colorful, ancient capitol, Xian. The Great Wall experience at Ju Yong Pass, on the outskirts of Beijing, was the highlight of our 10-day trip. None of us ever will forget the concert we played on the wall, or the nearly two hours we had after the concert to explore this world wonder. MCI’s Chinese staff, led by the estimable Sheldon Poon, is amazing! Each of the comfortable, spacious buses has at least one of these folks at all times. Our guide, Judy, is quite possibly the most charming person I’ve ever met. I’m sure that every group falls in love with her. We heard similar expressions of gratitude and appreciation for the other guides from people on the other buses. I am offering an unequivocal and enthusiastic endorsement of (MCI’s) tour package.