Taking Europe by Storm (and MUSIC!)

Friday, April 24, 2015

Here's the remaining meeting schedule for the 2016 Tour. Dr. John Bell, Director of the 2016 IL Ambassadors will be present at each meeting except June 1 and June 8: April 26 (Sun) 2:00 pm Champaign Centennial High School Host: Nick Schulze: schulzni@champaignschools.org 913 Crescent Drive, Champaign, IL 61821 6:00 pm Charleston Middle School Host: Megan McDevitt: memcdevitt2008@gmail.com 920 Smith Drive, Charleston, Illinois 61920 April 28 (Tues) 6:00 PM Quad City Area: United Township High School Host: David Maccabee: dmaccabee@uths.net Address: 1275 Avenue of the Cities, East Moline, IL 61244 April 30 (Thur) 5:00 PM Galena High School Host: Mark Baglione: baglionemark@gusd120.k12.il.us 1206 N Franklin St, Galena, IL 61036 May 1 (Friday) 6:30 PM Naperville Central High School Hosts: Connie Reynolds/Brandon Estes/Jo Ellyn Caulfield: creynolds@naperville203.org 440 West Aurora Ave., Naperville, IL May 2 (Sat) 2:00 pm Palatine High School (THSD 211 and THSD 214 area) Host: Dave Gear: DavidGear@sd54.k12.il.us 1111 North Rohlwing Road, Palatine, IL 60074 6:00 PM Thornton Fractional High School South Host: John Haney: jhaney@tfd215.org 18500 Burnham Avenue, Lansing, IL 60438 May 3 (Sun) 2:00 PM Lyons Township High School South Campus Host: David Hartley: Hartley.dave@gmail.com 100 S Brainard Ave, La Grange, IL 60525 6:00 PM Plainfield Central High School Host: Dan Valkema: dvalkema@psd202.org 24120 Fort Beggs Drive, Plainfield, IL 60544 May 4 (Mon) 6:00 PM Rockford Lutheran High School Host: Sheila Felder: tsfelder@comcast.net 3411 N Alpine Rd, Rockford, IL May 5 (Tues) 6:00 PM Columbia Middle School Hosts: Nathan Hoke and Jennifer Shaheen: nhoke@mac.com 100 Eagle Drive, Columbia, IL 62236 May 7 (Thur) 6:00 PM Bloomington Area: Lexington High School Host: Jason Bonny: jbonny@lexington.k12.il.us 100 E Wall St, Lexington, IL May 19 (Tues) 6:00 pm Springfield Southeast High School Host: Tiffany Williams: tifdre@yahoo.com 2350 East Ash Street, Springfield, IL 62703 May 21 (Thur) 6:00 pm Peoria Area: Dunlap Middle School Host: Rosemary Ardner: rosemaryardner@gmail.com 5200 West Cedar Hills Drive, Dunlap, IL 61525 June 1 (Mon) 6:00 pm LAST CHANCE! Victor J. Andrew High School Host: John Haney: jhaney@tfd215.org 9001 West 171st Street, Tinley Park, IL 60487 June 8 (Mon) 6:00 PM LAST CHANCE! East Moline: United Township High School Hosts: David Maccabee and John Haney: dmaccabee@uths.net Address: 1275 Avenue of the Cities, East Moline, IL 61244 June 11 (Thur) 6:00 PM LAST CHANCE! Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Hosts: Dr. John Bell/Dr. Gail Fleming: illinoisambassadors2016@gmail.com Dunham Hall Room 1115, Park in Lot B

Friday, April 10, 2015

Know Total Visits

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Additional updates of Pictures from Summer 2014!

Heading to Dover for the ferry crossing. They roll the busses into the belly of the ferry and then we all ride in comfort up in the passenger area. This is a beautiful sight ....the white cliffs of Dover!

Inside of St. Severan's church in Pris. This this the site of the orchestra and choir concerts. Inspiring!

St. Mark's in Venice. This is a terrific day. The choir usually is allowed to sing a couple of sacred pieces here, which is Magnificent!

In our last stop of the tour: Rothenburg, Germany, a quaint medieval walled city that has retained all of the charm and beauty of the Baroque era.

Concert from all areas of the United States. The Ambassadors cover America!

The Band performing their final concert in the town square in Rothenburg. SRO attendance!

The Choir performing in the beautiful Franciscan Church, is one of the oldest basilicas in Rothenburg, dating back to 1309. The excellent acoustics and atmospheric surroundings provide for an amazing space in which to perform!

Heading home!

Friday, July 11, 2014

VENICE, ITALY

Heading from Seefeld, Austria to Venice, Italy. It was a beautiful morning and as easy drive.

We stopped along the way at a "Truck stop," but these truck stops do not resemble anything like we see in the US. This barista is making fresh off the press expresso! Tasty!

It's everywhere!

On the ferry to the island of Venice. St. Mark's here we come!

Our "backstage" tour of Venice included history as well as a view of how the full time residents live.

Beautiful St. Mark's Cathedral. The choir sang two sacred numbers here....cameras not allowed inside!

Many chose to have lunch at an outdoor restaurant on the Grand Canal. What a treat!

Dr. B's selfie in St. Mark's square. Couldn't help himself....

SEEFELD, AUSTRIA

Crans-Montana and Zermatt, Switzerland

These are pictures from our time in Crans-Montana and the day trip to Zermatt, Switzerland. Included are also a couple of shots from our visit to the Château of Chillon and Montreux. Switzerland was the perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle and go go go of the past six days in London and Paris. The air is clean and crisp and the scenery is spectacular. On our concert day we played to a packed tent of local residents and all three ensembles performed with expertise and quality! Zermatt was a wonderful day trip to see the Matterhorn and shop in this lovely little mountain village. To get to the photo spot we rode a cable car INSIDE THE MOUNTAIN. As one emerges from the tunnel one sees the majesty of the Matterhorn across the valley. At the end of our Zermatt day we had a terrific fondue party with entertainment provided by an amazing array of local talent. The students all had a chance to play alphorns! We loathed the end of our time here but will always remember the beauty and peacefulness of this wonderful mountain village.