A group of 305 musicians took a 16-day trip, from June 26-July 12, as part of Wisconsin’s Ambassadors of Music European Tour.
The vocalists and instrumentalists performed and toured throughout Europe, in London, England; Paris, France; Crans-Montana, Switzerland; Vaduz, Liechtenstein; Seefeld, Austria; Venice, Italy; and Rothenburg, Germany.
Participants were selected through nominations by their high school and college music directors. The Oconto Falls High School music department was represented by band students Hannah Cunningham and Brittany Russell and choir students Ashley Baeten, Jennifer Deau, Stephanie Gortarez, Hannah Knutson, Evelyn O’Harrow and Leah Wons.
Adults from the Oconto Falls School District were Angela Baeten, Kelly Deau, Robert and Elizabeth Muzquiz and Diana Radtke.
Amy Thiel, Oconto Falls High School choral director, served as director of the 2014 WAM Choir.
Student musicians attending from area schools were Sara Waara, Lena, and Serenity Driscoll and Madison Mortier, Oconto.
Highlights of the tour included choir and band performances at the Victoria Embankment in London, England, before an international audience, a performance in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, and a final performance in Rothenburg, Germany.
Additional choir performance highlights included singing for a service at Wesley Chapel in London, England; performing at the Wilten Basilica in Innsbruck, Austria, and at St. Oswald’s Church in Seefeld, Austria; singing at the Basilica of San Marco (St. Mark’s) in Venice, Italy, and at St. Severin in Paris, France; and performing in the Marketplatz and a local church in Rothenburg, Germany.
The 2014 WAM choir and band performed a variety of sacred and secular music and combined their musicianship for performances of “America the Beautiful” and “On Wisconsin.” The choir performed a tribute to American composer Irving Berlin. The WAM band performed a variety of patriotic and American-themed selections.
The musicians visited historical and educational sites throughout Europe, including the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, the Theatre District, and the Tower of London in London; Notre Dame, Sacre Coure and the Louvre in Paris; the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland, and the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Montreaux, Switzerland; the Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany; and the medieval city of Rothenburg, Germany.
“This was an extraordinary group of dedicated, hardworking and talented musicians,” Thiel said. “They were exceptional ambassadors for our community, Wisconsin, Northeast Wisconsin and the entire United States.”
Thiel has directed the Wisconsin Ambassador of Music Choir since its inception in 1994. Alex Sabo, retired band director from Kenosha Bradford High School, has served as the director for the Wisconsin Ambassadors of Music Band.
As per a proclamation by Gov. Scott Walker, the Wisconsin Ambassadors of Music were named official ambassadors for the state from June 26-July 12.
The next Wisconsin Ambassadors of Music European Tour is scheduled for June 2016.
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