You are to be commended for your handling of the Neuqua Valley High School Festival Band’s trip to Germany and the Czech Republic. You set our expectations incredibly high because of our memories of the job you did for us when we toured China in 2006. You have met our highest hopes for collecting a lifetime of memories from our tour of Berlin, Leipzig and Prague. We highly recommend you to any discerning traveling music group.

Carol, our trip coordinator, was exceptionally skilled at guiding us through every detail of our trip, from the first planning meeting to our departure from O’Hare International. Carol thinks of everything! She is affable and forthright, so you get a sympathetic ear when conditions change and the absolute truth, all of the time.

Our guide, Carmen was a delight. She had an impressive work ethic and positive attitude. Her goal was perfection, yet she was flexible and responsive to our needs. It was her habit to spend every minute of travel time making sure each leg of our journey would be smooth . She communicated the itinerary by consulting with staff and then informing the students. She never allowed us to disembark our double-decker bus without having every student’s attention and explaining where and when we would meet. Consequently, we never had to wait for anyone. Everything flowed perfectly.

We had professional city guides everywhere we travelled. You did a marvelous job of making sure each tour was educational. We all learned so much about the cities we visited. We only wish we had had more time to soak it all in.

We love to perform for or with students from the countries we visit. Our concert for students from the Rosa-Luxemburg-Oberschule was first rate. The performance venue was packed with an appreciative audience. We had a grand time and made many new friends. Student Facebook accounts in Berlin and Naperville are buzzing with new connections. Finally, the full house at Salvator Church in Prague made our last concert a very positive culminating experience.

Thank you for a wonderful experience.

Sincerely,

Charles Staley
Fine Arts Chair