A powerful musical piece is meant to take the listener on a journey. In this case, songs literally brought a group of BCS student musicians on the trip of a lifetime. Earlier this year, the A.C. Reynolds High School band traveled to Italy, performing songs by Italian composers.
“The best part of the trip was watching students experience places and cultures they had only read about in books or seen in pictures,” said band director Clif Dodson. “Seeing them stand inside the Colosseum, perform in historic settings, navigate foreign cities, and gain confidence as travelers was incredibly rewarding. As a music educator, it is special to watch students grow musically, but it is even more meaningful to watch them grow as young adults through experiences like this.”
The cultural experiences included a visit to the Vatican, a lesson in creating the perfect pizza, and a guided tour in a gondola.
“Riding through Venice in a gondola was so beautiful,” said Gaby, a rising senior in the Reynolds band who plays the trumpet. “I’ve never experienced anything like that. You look up and you’re surrounded by these beautiful buildings and intricate architecture. It was such a perfect day.”
Between touring sites including the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Roman Forum, and St. Peter’s Basilica, the band performed three concerts to audiences of locals and international tourists.
“One of the most moving moments was seeing how appreciative the audiences in Italy were of our students,” Mr. Dodson shared. “After performances, audience members would often approach us to express their gratitude and admiration. In several instances, people were literally brought to tears as they shared how much they enjoyed and were touched by the performances. It was a powerful reminder that music truly is a universal language capable of connecting people across cultures and backgrounds.”
The students realized their important role of serving as melodic ambassadors for their school and the nation.
“As we walked on to these huge stages, we’d look up at the grandiose ceilings with beautiful paintings, statues all around us, and walls adorned in gold,” Gaby explained. “Every venue had its own beauty and uniqueness to it, and we really wanted our music to match the setting and be something the audience would really enjoy.”
The European adventure capped off a year of working with pieces by Italian composers and a marching band halftime show entitled “Pompeii,” which included a gladiator battle and erupting volcano.
