SHS Music Department 2009 Tour
SMB thanks Michael Boitz and Duane Otani for this article...
If “music is the universal language of the world,” then the Saratoga High School Music Department sent the message loud and clear on the 2009 Tour to Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. Over 250 band, choir, and orchestra students represented our community and left a distinct impression at all three festivals and all destinations we visited. All three groups performed exquisitely on this performance-intensive tour. The students truly shined as stars of every festival they performed in, and each performance had in attendance many parents, families, and friends that traveled with the tour. The students were remarkable both musically in performances and as ambassadors from our school and greater community.
While the students worked very hard on their performances, there was also time to explore the culture and life of the cities that we visited. Whether visiting the breathtaking snow-capped peak of Switzerland’s Jungfrau mountain, touring the Vienna Opera House, sampling savory foods in Salzburg, enjoying a variety of activities on the Alpine slopes of Schaldming, Austria, or the final traditional Bavarian farewell dinner in Germany, there was one thing that remained clear. This was a trip of a lifetime for our students and the memories and experiences they have gained will maintain a bond among them for many years to come.
Finally, we would be remiss if we did not thank the amazing chaperone and administrative team that supported the tour. As you may have heard, we brought a flu with us on tour and had a number of students who were ill. Our chaperones rose to the occasion and helped to nurse all of our students back to health, giving up a lot of their own time and even missing out on some of the sites. They worked incredibly hard for the students. We wish a special thank you to Helen Chang and all the chaperones. The efforts of Mrs. Chang and the entire chaperone team are a testament to the dedication to the welfare of young people in Saratoga.
Thank you to our Tour Chaperones and SHS Staff:
| Janet | Benzing | |
| Michael | Boitz | |
| Carrie | Bosco | |
| Joseph | Bosco | |
| Ann | Burns | |
| Christy | Cali | |
| Helen | Chang | |
| Laurie | Gee | |
| Beverly | Harada | |
| Takako | Hasegawa | |
| Walter | Lam | |
| Allen | Mamaril | |
| Bonnie | Marantette | |
| Thomas | Marantette | |
| Mary | Murphy | |
| Minh Tam | Nelson | |
| Patricia | Opatrny | |
| Duane | Otani | |
| Jonathan | Pwu | |
| Seshadri | Ramaswami | |
| Sangita | Seshadri | |
| Alice | Teter | |
| Traci | Tsukida | |
| Christine | Van Aken | |
| Lois | Vannier | |
| Janet | Verson | |
| Patty | Winningham | |
| James | Yowell Jr. |
Don't forget to visit SMB's photo gallery to view tour pictures...
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