On Thursday June 22, five Edina High School students and two graduates returned from two weeks in Europe. The students had the incredible opportunity to tour and perform as musicians throughout the continent.

The Minnesota Ambassadors of Music trip occurs every other summer, and is organized by the Colorado-based company Voyageurs International. The organization sends groups from multiple states to perform a series of concerts throughout Europe. This summer’s trip from Minnesota consisted of over 350 band and choir students, from a variety of schools. The group performed in England, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. The students on the trip also had the opportunity to visit France, Liechtenstein, and Italy during their breaks from performing.

Preparations for the trip began over a year ago in the spring of 2015 when students from all over the state received notice of their nomination to participate. The nominated students were then able to begin learning more about the tour and the experiences it would offer. “[A big reason] I chose to go on this trip was because I had never been to a lot of these countries before,” said incoming EHS senior and clarinet player Hannah Nemerov. “I [also] knew it would be a really awesome opportunity to make new friends.” After months of preparing for the trip and four long days of rehearsal, the MAM departed the United States on July 6.

The students gave their first performance in London, England. The concert featured traditional music of the countries the students visited, as well as several classic American pieces. The most popular piece performed by the band on the trip was the National March of the United States, John Philip Sousa’s The Stars and Stripes Forever. This march was an enthusiastic and patriotic close to each of the band’s performances that left the audience demanding an encore every time.

When the students weren’t performing, they spent their time touring the continent with fellow ambassadors who shared their passions for travel and music. Highlights of the tour included riding the London Eye, visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and taking in the view of the Alps Mountain Range in Switzerland. Having the opportunity to meet new people from throughout Minnesota also added to the students’ experiences. “[In addition to] seeing seven countries in Europe, the highlight of this trip for me was getting to know high schoolers from all over Minnesota who I wouldn’t have otherwise met,” said incoming EHS senior and tuba player Rayna Fordahl.

The Minnesota Ambassadors of Music trip is a fantastic opportunity for students to see fascinating parts of the world while making music with newfound friends. “I would [definitely] recommend this trip to other musicians,” said Fordahl. “It’s honestly a once in a lifetime opportunity to get to play in all of these countries.”