Riva Sharples | Editor
Alcester-Hudson seniors Natalie and Olivia Moore say they are forever changed, having toured Europe with the South Dakota Ambassadors of Music. The sisters returned last week from the three-week experience, during which they had the opportunity to perform in and tour five European countries.
“I would highly recommend this trip to other high schoolers,” said Olivia. “It is a great experience, and you get to do so many things you could never do on your own separate trip. The Europeans love the Ambassadors of Music, and they really enjoy seeing the kids from America come over and share their music.”
Adds Natalie: “It was an amazing experience, and I learned so much I think my head’s going to explode! It was a very fun trip and a fascinating journey that I’m very glad I went on.”
The students’ journey began in mid-June at SDSU in Brookings, where they met with other Ambassadors of Music from across the state for three intense days of rehearsals. Natalie and Olivia were part of a 53-member choir that practiced and performed ten songs. They also played in the South Dakota Ambassadors of Music Band. Between the choir and the band, Natalie and Olivia participated in nine performances during the trip.
After a performance at SDSU, the students’ first stop in their musical tour was England.
In London, the students visited Windsor Castle, witnessed the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, toured the Tower of London, enjoyed a city tour, and took in a show, among other things.
After several days in England, the Ambassadors traveled on to Paris, France, where they performed in another breathtaking cathedral. There, they also had the opportunity to take a sightseeing cruise on the Seine River, visit the Eiffel Tower, explore the Louve Museum (the sisters say they could have spent a lot more time here!), visit the Latin Quarter, tour Notre Dame, and more.
After a few days of sightseeing and performing in Paris, as well as enjoying an evening of entertainment by an amazing French band, the Ambassadors traveled by charter bus through the French countryside to Switzerland.
In Switzerland, the students visited Lake Geneva and stayed in the village of Crans Montana where they were treated like royalty. They performed for a packed house and were then entertained in kind by Swiss folk dancing.
In Switzerland, the students also visited Chillon Castle and Tausch, the town at the base of the famed Matterhorn Mountain. They rode a cable car up to an observation point and had time for hiking and just enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Swiss Alps.
After Switzerland, the students traveled to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany, a well-preserved medieval city that still has a city wall surrounding it. The students enjoyed exploring this medieval city and shopping (the town is known for German sweets, chocolate, knives, and medieval weaponry), among other things.
“The city literally has not been renovated since medieval times,” said Natalie. “My favorite parts of the trip were when we go to go to some incredibly old buildings and got to hear about the history of the place and what kind of people lived there in that time period.”
In Rothenburg, many took a “Night Watchman Tour” around the medieval town and the students performed in the historic town square during the heat wave that hit Europe while they were there. It was one of the hottest days in European history ever, and American students were surprised to find that most places in Europe don’t have air conditioning.
“The overall experience was missing air conditioning,” laughs Natalie.
One of the most somber days of the trip was when the Ambassadors visited the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site in Germany. The students learned about the horrors and atrocities that happened there before heading to the final country on their trip: Austria.
Austria was Olivia’s favorite country.
“Switzerland comes a close second, but I think that Austria is first because it was so relaxing and laid-back,” said Olivia. “There were trees and flowers everywhere, and everything was so peaceful.”
In Austria, the students visited Salzburg and the home of Mozart and the choir had a chance to perform in Salzburg Cathedral. Back in Bad Hofgastein, the small town where the group stayed, the students enjoyed exploring the friendly community. The students enjoyed more hiking and time spent in the beautiful Austrian countryside. Unfortunately, their final concert of the trip in Bad Hofgastein Square was mostly rained out. However, this didn’t dampen the spirits of the students, they said.
Overall, both Natalie and Olivia say their once-in-a-lifetime music journey to Europe was life-changing, and they are grateful that they were able to participate.
“One thing we learned from this trip was how European culture is so similar to American culture, but also just slightly different that you are always aware of it,” said Olivia. “Everything looks familiar, but it’s not the same as what we’re used to.”
Adds Natalie: “It really was an eye-opening look into what it’s like in other countries and cultures where not everybody looks like you or speaks the same language as you.”