This is the first time we’ve taken a group out of country. I had vivid intentions of what I wanted the kids to see and experience. These were all based on my desire to expose the kids to new/old perspectives and the much more complex world of which they are a part.

I had a dream of what this trip (to Austria & Prague) could be like. I can tell you without hesitation that this trip exceeded my dream in every way. We saw more stunning architecture/art, learned more history, tasted better food, heard better music, and experienced richer culture than I had imagined we might. The playing level of the orchestras has risen dramatically. The way the kids played in the cathedrals cannot be described with words. I did not imagine that the highlight of my musical career so far would come in the form of an almost “out of body experience‟ while I sat in the audience and listened as the Kamerata and Sarah Baumbauer performing the Mozart Clarinet concerto in a 450 year old church in Vienna to a packed house of Viennese who ended the concert by giving the kids a double standing ovation. Time had stopped, the cold temperature of the cathedral meant nothing, and we were all experiencing beauty in its purest form in the very home of that form. That moment alone was enough to make it all worthwhile.

The preparation for this tour has been a lot of work for the many involved. Fundraising constantly since the Summer, asking parents to sacrifice their funds for their kids (especially in this difficult economy), keeping open communication, working out the logistics of something larger than we‟ve done before, and learning how to manage 73 people on a double decker bus all took a lot of effort and commitment. The few challenges we dealt with were handled professionally and with “what’s best for kids‟ in mind. We actually had fewer total and less severe problems on this prolonged tour than with many shorter trips the High School music department has taken in the past fourteen years. I credit this to all who helped the kids mature during their ten days together.

Looking at every aspect of the trip I’ll go on record to state that the multiple positives of this tour have made it nothing but a great and positive experience for all involved, and well worth the financial investment. Many parents have already asked me if I’d ever consider doing it again. My answer is simply “absolutely‟.

Michael Certalic & Renee Westlake
Bozeman High School