Sunday, student musicians and adults from the area are invited to attend an informational meeting about the 2014 Indiana Ambassadors European Tour. The meeting will be at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Lakeview Middle School Choir Room. Indiana’s Ambassadors of Music completed their eighth biennial tour of Europe this past summer, performing concerts in Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Germany. The IAM Symphonic Band and Concert Choir toured Europe in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012. The next tour will take place in summer 2014. The IAM staff members for the Warsaw area are Martin Becker, director of bands at Grace College, and Judy Becker, choral director at Lakeview Middle School. The Beckers have traveled with more than 200 Warsaw area students and adults in the IAM tours since 1996. Dr. Joseph Scagnoli, associate director of the School of Music, emeritus, and director of bands, emeritus at Ball State University, is the founder and music director of Indiana’s Ambassadors of Music European Tour group, which numbered nearly 150 to 230 students and staff. Susan Finger, director of the Anderson Youth Chorale and director of bands at Anderson East Side Middle School, directed the Concert Choir. Selection for membership in Indiana’s Ambassadors of Music European Tour is based on the students exhibiting superior musicianship, outstanding citizenship and exceptional leadership qualities. Students were recommended by their respective high school band or choir director to an IAM area staff representative. Student instrumentalists and vocalists, along with their parents, should attend the informational meeting. Adult participants may or may not wish to participate in one of the performing ensembles. Any area adult that would be interested in the tour is also encouraged to attend the meeting.
