Centennial High School Orchestra - The Second European Tour
Centennial Orchestra: Viva Italia! What a Trip! (March 31 - April 9, 2005)
The orchestra students are all safely back from their Italy trip, which was absolutely packed with history and music.
Starting in Rome, we were probably one of the last tour groups to see Michelangelo's famous paintings at the
Sistine Chapel and many of his works at the St. Peters Basilica, as the Pope passed away later on the same day.
As a result, our first performance was cancelled, as were all public performances in Rome on that day.
We spent two and half days in Rome, visiting the Coliseum, ancient Rome, the Forum, Pantheon, Piazza di Spagn
(Spanish Stairs), Trevi Fountain, L'altare della Patria, and many other places.
Our first performance was in Perugia at the Chiesa di San Domenico, where we were touched that they dedicated the
concert to the late Pope. In tribute, we performed Sarah Gibson's "Remembrance" which was written in honor of those who died
during our 9/11. (Sarah is a CHS Orchestra alumna who graduated last year.) While in the area, we toured the city of Assisi, the
birthplace of St. Francis. We hiked up mountain trails to the Duomo, which was breathtaking.
Then, the group moved on to Florence, for a second concert and some excellent museums. The Uffizi Gallery and Michelangelo's
statue of David were just phenomenal! We performed in the center of Florence at the Palazzo Vecchio as part of a celebration of
Florence and its sister city, Reims, France. The youth choir from Reims and the youth orchestra of Florence got together to have a
joint performance, and we were the guest performers! The museum in which we performed was absolutely spectacular.
We then left for Cremona to visit the famous Violin Making School, where we saw string instruments in various states of
creation. On the way from Cremona to our next destination, Venice, we enjoyed the beautiful countryside.
The hotel was actually a little way from Venice, in Lido di Jesolo, which is on the beach of the Adriatic Sea.
Some of the braver (crazier?) kids went for a swim in the 60 degree water! On our last day, we toured Venice, visiting the
famous St. Marc's Square and the Doges' Palace, as well as visiting a glass making shop and doing a bit of shopping.
We were all glad to get home, but we'll miss Italy...particularly the gelato!
A VIP Invitation. Upon returning from Italy, we had the happy surprise of learning that the Centennial Orchestra had been
selected to Perform in the 2005 Midwest International Band & Orchestra Clinic in Chicago this December! This is the highest honor
for a high school orchestra or band in the nation, and we are proud and humbled to have been selected for this honor. More
information will be forthcoming next year.
CONGRATULATIONS !!!
To Centennial High School Orchestra
For being selected to perform at the prestigious Midwest Clinic, an International Band and Orchestra
Conference in Chicago 2005
The Orchestra would like to congratulate its graduating seniors: Michael Chang, Bernie Chu, Jean Gay, Jeeun Lee,
Mike Palombo, Meng-Ping Tsai, and Casey Upchurch. Jean Gay will be continuing her music studies in college; she has
been offered music scholarships from Longy Conservatory in Boston (MA) and from Georgia State and Columbus State in Georgia.
-- Jennifer Silverberg, FFA Orchestra President
