Adventure Awaits: Symphony’s Eastern Europe Tour

On Thursday, 91 talented Symphony musicians will embark on an unforgettable eleven-day journey through Germany, Poland, and Hungary. Friends, family, and members of the community are invited to wish them well and enjoy a showcase of their impressive tour repertoire at the Symphony Tour Send-Off Concert at 7:30pm on Tuesday, June 12 at Roseville Lutheran Church. Free and open to the public, the concert will highlight Symphony’s impactful tour repertoire including Liquify by Michael Abels, Berstein’s On the Town, Barber’s Adagio for Strings, and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 in its entirety.

The Send-Off Concert sets the stage for Symphony’s journey through Eastern Europe from June 14—25. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mark Russell Smith, students will perform in Wroclaw, Krakow, Lusławice, and Budapest. Starting in Berlin, then traveling to Krakow and through Poland’s mountains to Budapest, the tour features iconic historical sites, rich cultural opportunities, and beautiful landscapes. Students will perform five concerts, learn about local traditions, experience local music, and visit important historical sites, including the Brandenburg Gate, Heroes’ Square in Budapest, and concentration camps at Auschwitz/Birkenau. The tour will also provide once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for students to develop as musicians. Symphony will attend a world-class performance by the Berlin Philharmonic and participate in a workshop with Berlin Philharmonic cellist Stephan Koncz; while in Poland, students will experience living and performing at the Krzysztof Penderecki European Center of Music. Through these experiences, students will be inspired to new heights as musicians while developing a broader global perspective and creating lifelong friendships.

“Touring plays such an important part in developing new perspectives and cross-cultural connections while inspiring students to heightened levels of performance. With its rich music traditions, important historical sites, and enthusiastic audiences, Eastern Europe will provide students an unforgettable experience.” – Maestro Smith

Visiting Eastern Europe will be a first for many of the students, who range in age from 13 to 19, represent 41 different schools, and hail from 31 cities across the Twin Cities metro and beyond. Twelve adults will accompany the group, including Artistic Director Mark Russell Smith, GTCYS’ administrative and conducting staffs, and composer Michael Abels. To ensure every interested Symphony student had access to this opportunity, GTCYS awarded $40,000 in need-based scholarships.

GTCYS toured Argentina in 2016 and performed by invitation at the Granada International Festival of Music and Dance (Spain) in 2014, reinstating a rich tradition of biennial international tours. More than 800 students have participated in GTCYS’ 12 international tours which date back to 1978, when Symphony first performed at The Proms at Royal Albert Hall in London.

We extend a special thanks to Classical MPR who will again serve as our official tour media partner, sharing our social media content and Symphony students’ blog posts through their channels during the tour.

Symphony Tour Send-Off Concert
Tuesday, June 12 at 7:30pm
Roseville Lutheran Church
1215 Roselawn Ave W
Roseville, MN 55113
Admission is free; donations encouraged