Summer Spotlight: Calgary Youth Orchestra Tours Germany

 

Calgary Youth Orchestra Performance at Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

The Calgary Youth Orchestra of Alberta, Canada returned from a successful tour of Germany earlier this summer, where they visited and performed in cities across the country. Performances took place at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin, St. Nikolai Church in Jüterbog, the Reformed Protestant Church in Leipzig, and the Kleiner Golden Hall in Augsburg.

Orchestra conductor Edmond Agopian said the following about the group’s experience abroad:

Calgary Youth Orchestra at the Brandenburg Gate

Calgary Youth Orchestra at the Thomaskirche Johann Sebastian Bach Statue

Calgary Youth Orchestra Performance in the Kleiner Golden Hall

The Calgary Youth Orchestra tour to Germany was extremely valuable to the CYO members in terms of the strong connection between the music we performed and the places we visited and performed in.  Aside from performing for wonderfully enthusiastic audiences, the players were excited about all the museums, palaces, castles, art galleries and the cities we visited. The tour also included a visit to

the Dachau concentration camp which was represented in our concert program by a work by Erwin Schulhoff,  a Jewish Czech composer who died in one of Dachau’s subsidiary concentration camps in 1942.

I am greatly impressed and grateful to MCI for being able to put together a tour based on my itinerary and at a convenient time for the CYO. The places we visited or performed in such as Berlin, Leipzig, Munich, Weimar, Bayreuth, Halle, Potsdam and so on, were closely connected to each composer that we performed on the tour (or performed recently), and therefore the music really resonated with the students and with the audiences: Mendelssohn, Richard Strauss, Liszt, J.S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach, Mozart, Schulhoff, Handel, Wagner, etc.

Thank you MCI.

Edmond Agopian, Conductor
Calgary Youth Orchestra

Visit the tour Photo Gallery

Utah Chamber Artists Tour Germany, Austria, and Czech Republic

The Utah Chamber Artists of Sandy, Utah, recently returned from a concert tour of Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Music Director Barlow Bradford and Executive Director Rebecca Durham briefly highlighted some of their memorable concert experiences abroad-

“We enjoyed singing in every venue. It was an embarrassment of riches as we sang in
one stunning Baroque/Rococo church after another. The choir felt a warm reception from those in attendance and really felt fortunate to have the opportunity to perform in the selected churches and halls.”

Concert in St. Lukaskirche-

“The venue was very good and we had a great experience for our first concert. A large percentage of the audience was there because of Dick and Brenda Miles and their
church affiliation.”

Concert at St. Michael Basilica-

“Really a lovely venue and the choir loved it. Many of the same LDS audience came
back to this concert and it was difficult to distinguish who was there “off the street”.

Recital in Dom zu Salzburg-

“This was an amazing venue and we enjoyed a warm reception by all of those who
were there while we sang.”

Recital in the Innsbruck Dom St. Jakob-

“Another amazing venue and we enjoyed singing for those were there. We also sang a
few numbers in the Wilten Abbey.”

Recital in Melk Abbey-

“What a gorgeous place to sing! The acoustic was wonderful and there was an
intimacy there that was very inspiring.”

Concert in the Minoritenkirche-

“This was a very well-attended concert. Julia was a wonderful host and we had a great
experience there. From what I could tell, the choir had a difficult time hearing each
other but the sound out in the hall was very good.”

Participation in Mass and concert at St. Stephansdom-

“The mass went really well and the clergy and staff were gracious and welcoming.
The choir enjoyed it and it was a wonderful experience to have the opportunity to sing
a service in such an iconic venue.”

Concert in the Church of St. Simon and Judah Concert Hall-

“Wow, what an audience! The place was packed. We didn’t really expect that many
people and so it was a very rewarding way to wrap up the tour. We also really liked
the venue and those in attendance were very receptive.”