From April 20 to 24, ten students from grade 7 and 8 travelled to Vienna, Austria to perform in the 2016 Association of Music in International Schools (AMIS) Honor Band. These students auditioned in October, having practiced their audition pieces over the summer, and were competing against hundreds of the best musicians in Europe and the Middle East. In total, 78 students from 16 schools performed under the guidance of conductor Kent Walker.
After the auditions, the students were given eight repertoire pieces to learn for a gala concert in the heart of the city of music. However, before travelling to Vienna, these students had to take time out of their busy schedules to practice at home, and together at school. Since January, every Friday after school these musicians would meet to rehearse with Mr. Gordon Graham, the band director, for an hour and a half. Tuba player Quinn Link explained, “These practices were valuable to my time and helped me understand music better.”
A dozen or so rehearsals later, it was time to depart for Vienna. The ASL contingent left London on April 20 with their suitcases packed and their instruments tuned. Upon arrival at the American International School in Vienna, there was an orientation where students got to meet each other as well as the AMIS directors and their host families.
For the next two days, after a quick breakfast with the host families, the students met at the start of school, ready for a rigorous rehearsal schedule, practicing together for over six hours each day. The band had a chance to perfect their performance by playing for middle school students from the American School in Vienna.
On the morning of the big concert, the students had a well-earned break before getting ready for the gala concert. The group had a chance to explore St Stephen’s Cathedral and the catacombs before enjoying lunch in the bustling first district, with its many shops and cafes. After a day in the city, it was time to head to the Odeon Theatre to get some final notes, tune their instruments and line up. With the band dressed in smart black and white concert dress, the musicians were ready to perform for a packed audience of family and friends from around the world. The program ranged from quiet classics like “The Red Covered Bridge” to the rousing march of John Philip Sousa’s “El Capitan,” to the crowd favorite, music from the 2013 Disney movie, Planes.
Despite the packed schedule, the ASL musicians found this to be a rewarding experience. “This AMIS festival was very tiring, but it was a good learning experience and I improved my musical ability a lot,” said Link. “I would definitely recommend AMIS festivals because it is really nice to be around a group of people who also have the same passion for music.”
