Sunday, student musicians and adults from the area are invited to attend an informational meeting about the 2012 Indiana Ambassadors European Tour. The meeting will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Lakeview Middle School Choir Room. Dr. Joe Scagnoli will present the 2012 informational meeting. 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 and 2010. The next tour will take place in summer 2012. 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, Anderson, 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. Prior to their departure for Europe, the student participants gathered on the campus of Ball State University for an intensive three-day schedule of rehearsals and orientation sessions. Indiana’s Ambassadors of Music shared their music with European audiences in six different countries and a variety of performance venues. They visited and performed in several large European cities such as London and Paris, as well as smaller venues in Crans Montana, Switzerland; Seefeld, Austria; Venice, Italy and the medieval town of Rothenberg, Germany.The Concert Choir performed in the historic St. Mark’s Cathedral, Venice, for the first time over the past eight tours. Students were also exposed to the culture and life in these small Austrian, Swiss and Bavarian villages. 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 ensemble. Any area adult that would be interested in the tour is also encouraged to attend the meeting.
