St. Stephen’s Orchestra Students Impress Crowds on European Tour

28 members of the St. Stephen's Global Orchestra experienced an epic and memorable spring break. The talented Upper School students departed Austin in early March traveling through Hamburg, Berlin and Dresden in Germany, and Prague in the Czech Republic, where they played for appreciative audiences and learned more historical background of these cities.

The first concert was hosted at the historic St. Peter’s Church in Hamburg. 

As the orchestra warmed up for their first concert, a couple from Argentina passed by the church and heard tango music. St. Stephen’s Director of Orchestras John Moon, who led the trip, said the couple couldn't believe they were hearing the beloved music from their homeland right in the middle of Hamburg.

 

Their next stop was to Berlin playing in the historic St. Michael’s Church. The Dresdener Ballroom was next on the itinerary on March 8, and the Spartans wrapped up their tour in the Korunni Chapel on March 10.

 

Taking music of great European classical composers and finishing with a tango and other Central and South American dances delighted the listeners. After each concert, audience members told our Spartans how impressed they were seeing young people playing so well, being so serious about what they were doing and at the same time, sharing their joy in making music together. 

“Getting the chance to play four concerts in a short amount of time provided the touring orchestra an opportunity to learn about different venues and acoustics, to pace themselves, and to perform at a higher level each time,” said Moon.

Moon was not alone on this trip. He was accompanied by Assistant Orchestra Director Andrew Corral, Director of Residential Life Gene Phillips and Fine Arts Chair Liz Moon.