We have a tradition of taking ensembles to Europe since so much of the music we perform was written there. To be in the place where the performance first occurred provides an invaluable cultural experience.

We talked about World War I and World War II and the music that came from those turbulent periods. These people are still dealing with the horrors of World War II every day. There is deep sadness that they couldn’t do more to help prevent the genocide. They took us to the Holocaust memorial in every town.

The most moving experience was our concert in Krakow. Just outside it is Auschwitz, and watching students go through that was a profound experience. Many of them had no idea how horrific the Holocaust was. Actually standing there in the gas chambers, it finally hit home for them. Students came back saying they would never be the same.