From Dan Schwartz
Performance Manager, Music Celebrations International

We estimate over 1,000 people were in attendance by the end of the concert, and many more came and went throughout the day. Local people were approaching me in the hallways after the concert asking when certain orchestras were performing next in Vienna.

It’s a bit out of sequence, but I’m just now able to write at length about the Celebrate Haydn Orchestra Festival, commemorating Haydn’s 200th Anniversary. The concerts on Saturday were GREAT. Some memories to share:

Helmut [Wondra] (MCI’s concert manager in Vienna) loved the magical moment of being on stage when the orchestra members (especially the students) ooh and aah when they look out into the Konzerthaus for the first time.

When Bay Youth Orchestra director Helen Martell stepped on to the podium for the sound check, she simply started weeping. She stepped off and told the concertmaster to “tune them up.”

Kamehameha High School Orchestra’s Hawaiian piece that they commissioned in the 1990s for their Carnegie Hall premiere may have been the biggest crowd pleaser of the entire evening. Tour Coordinator Nani Dudoit dressed in traditional Hawaiian garb, carried and played a special type of gourd, and chanted in Hawaiian as part of the piece. Right before the piece started, her son, a violinist, raced off stage, ripped his tuxedo off and put on a tiny Hawaiian skirt (no other way to describe it) before going back on stage to do some traditional Hawaiian dance. It was quite a unique experience.

Coe College Orchestra performed three world premieres, including one by conductor Joe Dangerfield. Joe, having just conducted a premiere of one of his own pieces,with famed Viennese violinist Wolfgang David, on stage at the Vienna Konzerthaus, came off stage to collect himself before returning to the podium to conduct a Haydn Symphony.

Our good friend Walt Temme (Mountain View High School Orchestra) gave a great performance of Barber’s Adagio for Strings and Haydn’s Divertimento No. 1. Walt had to take a long pause between two pieces to let in the 400 or so people that had assembled in the lobby for the 7:00pm concert.

Jerry Tedesco from Sussex County Youth Orchestra is a consummate showman. In white tuxedo jacket, he had the audience in the palm of his hand when leading the orchestra in Johann Strauss’s Overture to Die Fledermaus. Helmut commented that they sounded like a real Viennese orchestra when playing it - apparently he has been pounding that concept into the orchestra all year long - “when we go to Vienna, we better play this like we are a real Viennese orchestra!” They surely did!

The Four Seasons Orchestra had three top soloists, including the star of the evening, ASU professor Catalin Rotaru. Catalin, who has done clinics for MCI before, played Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C on his BASS! I can’t think of an analogy to compare this feat to…..it’s kind of like winning the 100m dash with 20 lb weights strapped to each ankle. Catalin simply stole the show and was a great closer to 6 hours and 20 minutes of fabulous orchestra music.

Thank you for making the arrangements for the Four Seasons Orchestra’s Vienna Tour. Our tour went extremely well considering that there were so many things that could have gone wrong and went right instead! You were correct about Oliver being the best tour manager ever. He was on top of everything. I could tell how much he really cares about service and making us welcome in Vienna.

This had truly been a Zen experience for me. The more I conduct orchestras, the more I learn about what is great about human kind and what is sad about our race. When I became ill five orchestra members rushed to help me. Our three soloists achieved the greatest honor of their lives playing Vienna. They performed at the pinnacle of their artistic ability. Many of the Four Seasons Orchestra members expressed their gratitude to me for having the best musical experience of their lives. They loved the Konzerthaus and Esterhazy Palace performances. I loved the Hotel Hilton Danube, the acoustics at the Konzerthaus, Haydn’s beautiful palace, and especially Oliver and all of the people of Vienna that I met. I felt like I had come home.

Yours,
Carolyn Broe
Artistic Director/Conductor
Four Seasons Orchestra
Scottsdale, Arizona

With the release of the iPhone 3GS and the instant access we have to information, you may rest assured that when you tour with MCI, we understand your need to connect. I found this article quite interesting and for those of us who have busy lives, a comfort. When you tour with MCI, we want you to know you can still speak with your family, and if you’re one of the touring directors, still email those you were discussing important matters with. Below is a well-informed article that will provide some clarity on how you can connect wirelessly in Europe.

“With my mantra being “pack light,” I used to be against packing electronics of any kind. But now, I bring my laptop, iPod, digital camera and mobile phone to Europe. With hotels retiring their fax machines in favor of email, mobile phones getting cheaper and easier to buy, and Wi-Fi hotspots popping up everywhere, it’s never been simpler to get connected.

If you tote your own laptop, you’ll find that many hotels and cafes offer wireless access — sometimes it’s free, other times, you’ll have to buy a drink or pay a fee — while some towns have Wi-Fi hotspots scattered around highly trafficked areas. Just pay for a password, park yourself on a bench in your favorite idyllic spot — overlooking a sandy beach, on a floodlit piazza or along a bustling people-watching boulevard — then log on and surf away.

It’s handy to travel with a mobile phone, whether you’re calling a hotel for directions or getting in touch with that lost travel buddy who missed the train. If you want to use a mobile phone in Europe, you have two choices: Take your own, or buy one once you’re there. ”
By: Rick Steves
Tribune Media Services

By Rick Steves
Tribune Media Services

(Tribune Media Services) — If any European capital knows how to enjoy the good life, it’s Vienna. Compared to most modern urban centers, the pace of life here is slow. Locals linger over pastry and coffee at cafes. Concerts and classical music abound. And chatting with friends at a wine garden is not a special event but a way of life.

For many Viennese, the living room is down the street at the neighborhood coffeehouse, which offers light lunches, fresh pastries, a wide selection of newspapers, and “take all the time you want” charm (just beware of the famously grumpy waiters).

Each coffeehouse comes with its own individual character. Cafe Sperl dates from 1880, and is still furnished identically to the day it opened — from the coat tree to the chairs. Cafe Hawelka has a dark, “brooding Trotsky” atmosphere, paintings by struggling artists (who couldn’t pay for coffee), smoked velvet couches, and a phone that rings for regulars. Mrs. Hawelka died a couple of weeks after Pope John Paul II. Locals suspect the pontiff wanted her much-loved “Buchteln” (marmalade-filled doughnuts) in heaven.

Full Article Here

Traveling international with MCI? Not only will you be experiencing an educational and life-changing musical tour but you’ll also be given the opportunity to indulge in a few cuisines that you may not find in the States. Not only is MCI dedicated to insuring a quality tour, but we’re also interested in the cultural experiences you’ll engage in. This article shows a glimpse of what you might find in some of these infamous countries.

By: Rick Steves
Tribune Media Services

Eating and drinking in Europe is sightseeing for your taste buds. Every country has local specialties that are good, memorable, or both. Here are many of the fun experiences that stick in my mind after 30 years of travel. Seek out any of these on your next trip.

Germany’s wurst is the best anywhere, and kraut is not as “sauer” as the stuff you hate at home. Only a tourist puts the sausage in a bun like a hot dog. Munch alternately between the meat and the bread (”that’s why you have two hands”), and you’ll look like a local. Generally, the darker the wiener, the spicier it is.

The hallowed vineyards of Burgundy surround the French city of Beaune. Its venerable Marche aux Vins (wine market) welcomes serious wine buyers and tourists into a subterranean, candle-lit world, where fine wines sit seductively in bottles atop old oak kegs, just waiting to be tasted. Pick up a “tastevin” (shallow, stainless-steel tasting dish) and a shopping basket, descend into the dimly lit caverns, and work your way through the proud selection. Sampling a world of $100 bottles in the company of people who live for their fine wine can be both inspirational and intoxicating.

In Italy, sip wine with college students at an outdoor bar in Padua’s market square. Pour some fine olive oil on a dish, season with salt and pepper, rip a long strip from your bread, dip it, and bite. The last time I was there, a student explained I was making the “scarpette” — the little shoe. Soaking up the oil along with the conversation, we travelers become human “scarpette,” sopping up culture as we explore Europe.
Wherever you travel, it’s fun to meet people over food and drink. It’s part of understanding the culture of a country. Take the initiative not to just see your destination, but to experience it.

Read the FULL ARTICLE

By Eileen Ogintz
Tribune Media Services

(Tribune Media Services) — Another day, another castle. But no one’s complaining.

Not in Prague, which many now call The Paris of the East. It’s crowded with tourists on this brilliant summer day.

Prague, of course, is the capital of the Czech Republic and has been an intersection of continental merchant routes for centuries. And this year, according to a new survey from www.tripadvisor.com, it tops the list of the best European bargain cities, ahead of London, Paris, Lisbon and Budapest.

If you thought Europe was too pricey, think again. With the U.S. dollar stronger than it was last year and with cheap airfares, this may be the summer to visit. Prague especially is guaranteed to be a hit with young visitors, including the two teens I’m traveling with. “Prague has so much more to offer than people expect,” one local mom tells me. And she’s right.

Full Article Here

Albinoni/Giazotto Adagio for Strings and Organ: conducted by Stefan Freund performed by Columbia Civic Orchestra at Franziskanerkirche in Graz Austria, March 26, 2009

Cyrillic Dreams: composed and conducted by Stefan Freund performed by Columbia Civic Orchestra at Franziskanerkirche in Graz Austria, March 26, 2009

The tour experience was incredibly positive. I loved the hotels, meals, and performance venues. The guides and managers were very professional and I thought we had a great relationship with them. The driver was superb and the bus felt quite luxurious!

I want to compliment the professionalism of Music Celebrations. You guys have been great to work with every step of the way and I will certainly recommend you to other groups. I’d be happy to be a reference for you if you like.

Thanks for a great experience for me, my players, and our guests.

Stefan Freund, Director - Columbia Civic Orchestra

My personal highlight was not a singular place. It was the way my students looked at everything we did and saw. I know that we have given these kids special memories. That is my personal highlight. The kids truly enjoyed the entire tour. The concert experiences were some of the best I have ever had!

The services that Music Celebrations International provides are top notch. It is by far the most organized and caring group I have worked with. I know that my students will come first. I also know that when issues arise I can count on MCI to be there every step of the way. Thank you!

Jeffrey Wirtz, Director

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

By Eileen Ogintz
Tribune Media Services

(Tribune Media Services) — It sparkles everywhere — on the walls, the floors, on the ceilings in fanciful art displays guaranteed to make you say, “WOW!” no matter what your age.

Welcome to Swarovski Crystal Worlds in the small town of Wattens, Austria, where the famous international company has been headquartered for more than a century. We’re just a short drive from Innsbruck at this unique underground museum, Austria’s second top tourist attraction (after Vienna’s Schonbrunn Palace), which attracts 700,000 visitors a year to the Tyrol. (Catch a bus several times a day from Innsbruck).

As the legend goes here, a benign giant (we see his huge walking stick) watches over the subterranean world (crystals, of course, are formed deep in the earth and then refined by human hands). Each of the museum’s paintings, sculptures and multimedia installations are created by internationally known artists and utilize crystals — from the Mechanical Theater (kids will love the dancing pants and the man’s body that comes apart with crystal inside!) to Poseidon’s Puzzle, which changes based on your movements, and the giant kaleidoscope, flower angels and dancing suns.

Check out the biggest crystal in the world — 300,000 carats — and the tiniest, just .8 millimeters (www.swarovski.com/kristallwelten). Kids will love the special art workshops, the performances (we saw some amazing Brazilian dancers) and the sculpture garden and playground outside.

Full Article Here

If you are considering taking a trip to Austria with this company I highly, highly recommend it! MCI organizes a wonderful variety of itineraries that you can choose. My choir did a ten day tour of Salzburg, Vienna, and Prague (Czech Republic). We called our tour PRAVISA. If you can make this tour a reality financially (and believe me,…if we didi it,.,,anybody can!!) then this will be something your students will never forget. I’ve done Italy with MCI as well. They are a good comapny!

John Anthony
Central Islip High School

Good Morning America recently did a Destination spotlight on Prague’s Castle, partly owned by the Lobkowicz family (a financial contributor to Beethoven). The Trinity University Choir, from Texas, recently performed here to a standing room only crowd. MCI is proud of its association with the Lobkowicz family in promoting concerts on the Castle grounds.

Here is the featured article on Good Morning America

MISSOURIAN
BY Leslie Horn

COLUMBIA — Since the days of Beethoven and Mozart, Austria has been famous for classical music. On March 21, musicians from Columbia will have a chance to perform there. The Jane Froman Singers of Columbia College are teaming up with the Columbia Civic Orchestra for a nine-day tour of Austria at the end of this month.

“For me personally, it’s my opportunity to be in these performance spaces in cities that were home to great musicians in the history of classical music,” said Nollie Moore, director of the Jane Froman Singers. “It’s an awe-inspiring opportunity.”

The group will perform a preview of the tour program on Sunday evening on the Columbia College campus. The tour, produced by Music Celebrations International, is a part of the 2009 American Celebration of Music in Austria, commemorating the 200th anniversary of composer Joseph Haydn’s death. The group will visit three cities in Austria: Vienna, Graz and Salzburg. Musicians will mostly perform in churches.

Full Article Here

Dear John and staff of MCI;

Please accept my sincerest thanks for an inspiring and superb trip this past summer. It was indeed an honor to be invited to serve as an Artistic Director for the prestigious Lucerne International Choral Festival. The program was first-rate in every way; it was administrated and organized to a “T”; everything was professionally and smoothly handled. The concert hall was truly magnificent- stunning- acoustically a conductor’s dream, and the Santa Maria Orchestra did a wonderful job, demonstrating a completely supportive attitude. The singers from the eleven different ensembles from across the USA arrived thoroughly prepared and participated with enthusiasm in every rehearsal, delivering an inspiring performance.

Special thanks must also go to all of the directors for preparing their singers so well, and for being supportive throughout the festival. Each of them proved a delight to work with, and must share in the kudos for this wonderful event.

Thanks also for your “on-the-spot” assistance and flexibility- securing of fans and straws and such (those who were present know to what I am referring), and to accommodating us with utmost professionalism throughout the trip. Your entire staff deserves five stars in my book.

The Collegiate Chorale from Bowling Green State University also enjoyed a significant “post-Lucerne” tour, traveling to Italy, Austria and Hungary, and had the privilege of singing in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice, Karlskirche and Stefansdom in Vienna and Esterhazy at Eisenstadt, and Matthias Church in Budapest. Again, every detail was so well cared for; every person working for MCI including bus drivers and tour guides, and our hosts throughout the trip were professional, personable, courteous, and wonderful to work with- they became part of our tour and community, making it very special indeed. The audience responded so beautifully to us- it makes me again realize that music is THE universal language, and connects us all; perhaps the greatest benefit of a trip like this is to realize that in the most profound and intimate way.

At the center of our tour was music, certainly, and people. We truly had the “trip of a lifetime,” starting with Lucerne and ending in Budapest.

Again, I thank you for inviting me to serve as Artistic Director of this wonderful event, for inviting the Collegiate Chorale from BGSU, and for sponsoring us on a magnificent tour. This is my third tour with MCI, and I am decidedly an MCI fan; I recommend you and your staff with the highest marks possible, and look forward to more endeavors with you in the future.
Sincerely yours,

Dr. William Skoog
Director of Choral Activities
College of Musical Arts
Bowling Green State University

Click here to read more about the tour.

By far, the best tour that Greg and I have experienced with a choir! Pascal was the best tour leitung we have ever had. He was always working on our behalf, accommodating our wishes, keeping us well informed of the schedule and transportation arrangements. He connected with everyone, from experienced to inexperienced traveler, from young to old, from happy to disgruntled. His interpersonal skills are outstanding. We all were delighted by his expertise, his accessibility, his sense of humor, his pleasant demeanor.

The concerts were the highlights. Our participation in Mass at St. Vitus in Prague was a “mountain top experience”, and the initial sing of the tour! Our hosts were helpful and appreciative. This was a memorable and meaningful event. Our concert at Karlskirche in Vienna was a beautiful setting, an appreciative, large and responsive audience. Again, our hosts were charming. Our performance at the University Church in Salzburg was a wonderful performance, with a large and appreciative audience. Our participation in the Celebratory Mass in Salzburg was a meaningful and inspirational event. An appropriate last performance that all appreciated.

Thank you all for this wonderful tour! We will definitely call you when we are able to tour again.

Nancy & Greg Vancil
Seattle Bach Choir

Chuck [Charles Jackson, director] and I want to thank you for putting together a wonderful Tour package for our group. The venues were absolutely wonderful and the tour visits to famous spots along with their tour guides, were well planned and memorable for all! In retrospect, we are quite pleased with the entire Tour experience that MCI had planned for our group of 85! I left feedback forms (glowing reports) on Claudia and Bianca with them. I also provided Julia with feedback on the Tour Guides and the motorcoach drivers (excellent).

I received some wonderful comments by all about the inflight service by Air France - it was outstanding. Although the length of time for flying was incredibly long, everyone remarked on the exceptional standard of service.

Again, I want to stress that in general, the Tour was a huge success. The hotels that were chosen were superb. Overall planning and execution of the Tour required the collaboration and team-work of many individuals on your end and our end. Comments from the Tour Managers and from our parents indicate care, compassion, competency and attention to detail from all involved. This is the right recipe for the best product.

Thank you again, for a most valuable experience and priceless memories!

Bev Patton, President of the “Friends of the Orchestra”

Our group returned yesterday from Austria and I wanted to thank you for a wonderful trip! It truly was a great week for both students and adults. The venues were outstanding and worked very well for our choir and we enjoyed our tour escort, Bianca Cunia, very much. She was friendly, well-prepared and willing to go the extra mile when needed. The city guides were also very informative and professional. We especially enjoyed both guides in Vienna.

All of the venues were beautiful with gorgeous accoustics. Participating in the Mass at the first performance in Innsbruck was very special. Everything was conducted in German, so it was a bit tricky to follow; however, our host Micheal would signal me from the organ loft each time we were to sing. We enjoyed conversation with him at dinner after the concert - this was a highlight of the trip for me - getting to speak with our hosts and guides . I felt as if we were able to make connections as musicians and people - making the world seem like a much smaller place!

The Altkatolichekirche in Graz was an intimate setting, yet the audience was so warm and receptive. It was very interesting to have our guide translate each piece for the audience/congregation, which was all German speaking, except for our parents. One of the audience members brought me a bouquet of flowers from her garden. It was nice to finally meet Helmut in Vienna. He was very helpful. The Karlskirche was an amazing venue. It was thrilling to sing in the very spot where so many famous musicians performed!

In my opinion, one of the most meaningful opportunities was getting to sing impromptu pieces in the cathedrals and halls that were visited. The tour guides were very accommodating in helping us to arrange those. Usually a crowd would gather, and ask us to sing a few more songs, but for me it was really about giving the students the chance to make music where so many have gone before.

The activities on our trip were very enjoyable for all - there was a nice variety or tours, traveling and shopping. The hotels were nice - getting better as we moved east.

Thank you again to the staff at MCI for all the of the preparation that made our trip a success. I already have students and parents asking when and where the next trip will be!! This is going to have a big impact on the choir program at SCA!!

Please pass this along to your staff, and accept our thanks for this wonderful opportunity!!

I’ll be in touch,
Rachel Stoddard
Scottsdale Christian Academy

The Hillcrest Christian School Choir toured Austria this past year, performing in the American Celebration of Music concert series. While on tour, they performed in seven stunning venues from Bavaria to Vienna.

This experience was a dream come true for me. I began working on this itinerary almost two years ago. Every single thing about it exceeded my utmost expectations. We had the perfect balance of performances and sight seeing as well as free time.

The sheer beauty of the venues that we were invited to sing in humbled me to the core. We had 8 performances in 9 days. These are truly some of the most beautiful venues in all of Europe. The Salzburg Dom literally takes your breath away just approaching the front doors let alone its vast beauty on the inside.

We sang in the mass on a brisk Saturday morning at the Wieskirchen. This was a magnificent cathedral in a small village between Munich and Salzburg that was nestled right in the center of miles and miles of rolling meadows, with the backdrop of the Swiss Alps surrounding its structure. The magnificence of the landscape alone crippled our senses to just be still and take it all on for a moment. The caretaker of the church met us for a detailed tour of the ancient frescoes that told the story of the entire New Testament in vibrant colors spanned across the ceiling that towered 200 feet above our heads. It was strikingly similar to the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

On Sunday we sang in the Mass at the Cathedral of St. Gilgen. This was a beautiful village North of Salzburg. St. Gilgen Cathedral was a small ancient chapel tat sat right on a lake with the Swiss Alps draping all four sides of its acreage. I had never been here before. The history and ancient charm of this 600 year old village had been perfectly preserved and manicured. It was simply divine. We sang in the balcony. Because the Chapel was smaller its acoustics were perfect. Their voices moved in a continuous motion of surround sound with every chord. The congregation was so touched that they asked the choir to stay and sing more pieces. I held up Elijah Rock which is a twelve part impressive spiritual that the kids just love performing. They quietly revolted and said, “No, we want to sing Sicut Cervus,” I stood for about a minute speechless holding back the tears. Not many people will understand why that alone is a miracle. It is a very difficult task to get high school students to love Renaissance music. I knew then and there that the beauty of this music had made its mark on their souls and in their hearts. They not only sang this ancient holy piece of music, but truly worshipped. I did not even need to conduct it. Many of them were singing with their eyes closed, their heads tilted upward with tears streaming down their faces. These are priceless moments that I will never forget.

Sunday evening we had another concert at the University Church in Salzburg. This is one of the most impressive venues in all of Europe. Its ceilings stretch the course of a football fields in length and its height was about 300 feet. It’s clearly evident that majesty and honor was the theme of this sacred hall. Many of the patrons that we had met along the way were blown away that we had been invited to sing in these prestigious places. As a result, this alone brought our audiences each time. These cathedrals are not heated in order to preserve the art and their original colors. As a result they are very cold and people cannot stay for long periods of time without proper clothing on. We lost a few people I the middle of the concert. Afterwards, we headed to the steps just outside the main entrance and sang in the city square. In only moments another 150 people gathered around to hear the kids sing. This is simply not the culture here on the states.

Monday, we toured the Benedictine Monastery in Melk. This palace had been the summer get away of the Hapsburg family in the 1600’s. They gave the property to the Benedictine Monks for their Monastery. The Melk Abbey was definitely a highlight. We toured the property for about an hour working our way to the abbey, or the “house of God”, the chapel. The chapel portion was 800 years old. There was no talking aloud in the chapel and we were scheduled to perform a half hour a cappella recital there. I knew upon arriving to the Monastery something profound was about to happen. The choir began to sing and the Spirit of the Lord fell abundantly on each one of them, randomly capturing their hearts one at a time. Before I knew it, I had standing before me 53 kids sobbing at the sheer beauty of the music they were creating. I whispered, “This is the epitome of the ensemble, and you are in the holiest of holies in your hearts. Take the head of the person on your right and your left gently in your hands and give them a holy kiss. My singers were overwhelmed with love for one another for the first time in their lives. They continued to sing from the depth of their being. One at a time God touched these precious kids so deeply they could only weep. 6’3” tall boys weeping just because of the tenderness of this indescribable moment absolutely crippled me. I looked up at my senior leader and said, “Ryan, you will have to conduct Ave Verum, I am going down. I can no longer stand.” I proceeded to fall to the ground on my face weeping profusely at the beauty of God’s presence capturing these students and myself.

Tuesday, we had the incredible honor of being welcomed and received by the Mayor of Salzburg. This reception was in the exceptional town hall of Salzburg. This is perhaps the most beautiful room in all of Salzburg. We were presented with a certificate of gratitude and honor. They proceeded to shower mw with a multitude of gifts. They asked the kids to sing for them. As the students sang in a circle in this magnificent room, I had to stop conducting again. I was so overwhelmed with this whole dream coming true and the indescribable honor they had bestowed on us when I felt the honor was really ours. After this, we quickly walked back to the town square and approached the famous Salzburg Dom for a twenty minute a cappella recital. Wow! We could not even speak as we drew nearer and nearer to this absolutely magnificent structure. Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord god Almighty….ran through my head as I entered this place. As you can imagine we had yet another encounter singing in this extraordinary room. Tourists flooded into the room at the very moment their voices filled the air. It is simply amazing to me that this trip just got better and better everywhere we went.

Tuesday evening, we went to a Mozart dinner. This was a true taste of the culture of this town at its best. A 3-course meal was flanked by vignettes of three Mozart Operas with a string quartet and two fabulous singers dressed in the attire of 1750.
Wednesday, we moved into Vienna, the Imperial city. Vienna is impossible to absorb in just 3 days. We did most of the touring by bus and a lot of walking. We sang in St. Peter’s Cathedral in Vienna on Thursday morning. This venue is very similar to Notre Dame in Paris. Beauty beyond description adorned the walls and ceiling of this outstanding structure. Vienna is the architectural capitol of the world in my opinion. This imperial city is marked with royalty and majesty and brilliance literally everywhere you look. It is quite overwhelming.

We ended our tour with an extraordinary concert at St. Charles Cathedral in Vienna on Thursday night. We had an audience of about 400 patrons. They had to put our more chairs to accommodate the growing crowd. What a blessing for us. There is so much more to tell of this miraculous journey. This trip was simply perfect in every way. The choir came together and fell in love with one another very quickly.

The trip was absolutely perfect in every way. It far exceeded my expectations. I look forward to our next tour with MCI!

Galen Clark, Director
Hillcrest Christian School Choir

The Shasta High School Choral Program is currently on tour in Europe. Their itinerary takes them to Prague, Vienna, Salzburg & Munich. You can travel alongside of them by visiting their BLOG.

No where does glitz, glamour, splendor and fun better intersect than in Vienna on New Year’s Eve. With its live performances, rock and roll, disco, fireworks, and of course, classic Straussian Waltzes, the Cultural Capital of Europe comes alive with magic at the stroke of midnight!

Each year, members of Ars Viva!, one of the great professional orchestras in the United States, travel to experience all the high style and musical joie de vive that Vienna has to offer.

Several staff members at Music Celebrations recently participated in our annual “FAM Tour”, which took us to Budapest, Eisenstadt & Vienna in preparation of the big 2009 Haydn year.

Highlights of the time in Budapest were visits to wonderful venues including the Liszt Hall, St. Margaret’s School, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Mathias Church and the Hungarian Culture Center.

Highlights of Eisenstadt were visits to Esterhazy Palace, the Haydnsaal, Haydn’s house, and Bergkirche (where Haydn’s body is laid to rest).

Highlights of Vienna included the House of Music, the Hofburg with its collection of musical instruments, Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna Konzerthaus (Haydn Festival venue) and the Piaristenkeller restaurant, where we donned hats from the Hapsburg Empire era.

We are all very excited about the 2009 year and exciting Haydn Festivals we are organizing. All will be fantastic events!

We really enjoyed our tour to central Europe and all the performances. We were especially pleased with the audiences’ response to our singing. I thank you all for everything that you did behind the scenes to make this a really memorable experience for all of us. It was only once we were in each country that we could begin to fathom how much preparation was done to make things run so smoothly. You seem to have an excellent network of people to carry out the tours with such aplomb.

It was exciting to sing in churches with such history! Mátyás Church in Budapest, Karlskirche in Vienna, and St. Nicholas in Prague were all very impressive venues and each had excellent acoustics.

Our tour manager, Patrick, was really first class. He was professional in every way and did his best to accommodate everything we needed, and always very cheerfully. While he was very friendly with the students, he maintained a certain professional distance that was very intelligent.

I will be glad to serve as a reference.

Christine Jordanoff, Duquesne University Voices of Spirit

Morten Lauridsen received a lifetime achievement award from the NEA last week, presented at the White House by President George Bush. We will perform Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna in Vienna at the 2009 Haydn Choral Festival under the direction of Jo-Michael Scheibe.

He is the first USC professor and third alum to receive the lifetime achievement award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

By Ljiljana Grubisic

President Bush awards the National Medal of Arts to composer Morten Lauridsen at a White House ceremony.

Photo/Michael Stewart, National Endowment for the ArtsMorten Lauridsen, professor of composition at the USC Thornton School of Music for more than 30 years and a three-time alumnus (BM ’66, MA ’68, DMA ’74) has been awarded the National Medal of Arts, the highest recognition given by the National Endowment for the Arts to artists and patrons in the fields of visual, performing and literary arts.

Lauridsen’s lifetime achievement award recognizes his preeminent place in the choral music of the 20th century. The medal was presented today by President George Bush and first lady Laura Bush in a special ceremony at the White House.

President Bush noted, “Our honorees represent the great strength and diversity of the American culture.”

After the president’s introduction, a military aide read the names and contributions of the winners.

Lauridsen won the honor, according to the official citation, for “his composition of radiant choral works combining musical power, beauty and spiritual depth that have thrilled audiences worldwide.”

Lauridsen is only one of eight classical composers, including Aaron Copland and Elliott Carter, to receive the award. Last year the NEA named him an “American choral master.”

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