Student Musicians Return From European Performance Tour
Posted
Staff Report-
On May 15, student musicians from throughout Indiana gathered on campus at Ball State University, Muncie, to audition and participate in the initial rehearsal which would prepare them for their 2-1/2-week European performance tour, which began June 18.
The students were selected to represent Indiana as musical ambassadors to seven European countries.
Indiana's Ambassadors of Music completed their eighth biennial tour of Europe this 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.
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 130 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.
Other staff members included Judy Becker, Lakeview Middle School, Warsaw; Martin Becker, Grace College, Winona Lake; Tony Benson, Tri Junior-Senior High School, Straughn; Mark Finger, retired, Highland High School, Anderson; Ellen Gerbracht, South Newton High School, Kentland; Kevin Klee, Snider High School, Fort Wayne; Katherine Kosch, Whiteland Middle School; Brian Lackey, Bedford North Lawrence High School; Katherine Lang, Whiteland High School; Tom Laverghetta, Auburn Community Band; Kim Randinelli, Memorial Park Middle School, Fort Wayne; Bart Roberts, Dickinson Intermediate Academy, South Bend.
Selection for membership in Indiana's Ambassadors of Music European Tour was 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.
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. Mr. and Mrs. Becker served as associate conductors on the 2010 IAM tour.
Warsaw pianist Deb Bishop served as the accompanist for the IAM choir.Prior to their departure for Europe June 18, student participants gathered on the campus of Ball State University for an intensive three-day schedule of rehearsals and orientation sessions. On June 17, the results of the three days of preparation were presented to the public in the form of a pre-tour concert. The concert was held in Sursa Auditorium, Music Instruction Building, on the Ball State University campus.
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 Rothenburg, Germany.
The concert choir, under the direction of Sue Finger, performed in the historic St. Mark's Cathedral, Venice, Italy, 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.
