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Morgan Ray, left, and Madison Hawk.
Shelby band students embark on ‘once in a lifetime’ European trip.
SHELBY – Shelby High School band students Morgan Ray and Madison Hawk are embarking upon a “once in a lifetime” European tour through the Michigan Ambassadors of Music program.
Morgan, who will be a junior next school year, is a baritone sax player and is in the marching band and the jazz band at Shelby. Maddie, who will be a senior, is in the jazz band and is a color guard in the marching band, said Director Curt Isakson.
“Directors contact local music programs and ask for their best candidates to apply,” said Isakson. “Students are then selected and invited on tour. These students are ambassadors from the State of Michigan. They even receive a letter from the Governor.”
Maddie and Morgan have spent three days rehearsing with the ambassadors group and preparing for the 16-day tour. They were set to depart Friday, July 12.
The ambassadors will perform at Windsor Castle in London, the Château de Fontainebleau in Paris, in Seefeld, Austria and Rothenburg, Germany.
They will tour Crans-Montana, Switzerland including the Matterhorn, Innsbruck, Austria and Venice, Italy.
“There are many specific tours as well as ample time off to explore the various cities,” said Isakson.
“There are about 140 in the band and 90 in the choir with a staff of 20-plus. There are also mothers and fathers who are taking the trip with us. The total is about 300 – six tour busses.”
The group returns to Michigan, July 28.
Isakson will also be on the tour, and his jobs include serving as a direct chaperone of eight students, including the Shelby students; bus coordinator; and flight coordinator.
The students will stay in four-star hotels in London, Paris, and Germany, and chalets in Switzerland and Austria.
This is the not the first time Shelby band students have participated in the ambassador program. Two years ago, three students Shelby students participated. “We have also had various students go on European band tours through Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp,” he said.
“This is a ‘once in a lifetime’ trip for these students. Seeing the world is essential, in my view, to a well-rounded child. They will see many icon sites, as well as interact with other people in the world. They also use their musical skills to be part of a team and to share their talents by performing in some of the coolest places in Europe. They also learn the skills of traveling and budgeting time, money and resources. I hope to continue these trips every two years and share these experiences with as many local musicians as possible.”
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